Sun is Up! Cover it Up!
It’s summer time! This is the time when students are about to take off from school and go on vacation with their families and friends. But aside from having a good time with friends and families, what does summer bring us? As you can see and feel, summers in Japan have been getting worst every year. The temperature is getting hotter and humid. Scary, but that’s the truth, we have to be more cautious as it can bring worse damage to our body.
Too much exposure to sun can damage the skin. Some damage can be temporary like sunburn, however, excessive burn to our skin can lead to future problems like skin cancer. The two main types of damaging ultraviolet (UV) sunlight are UVA and UVB rays, these rays penetrate your skin and eventually wrinkles and burns the outer and even inner layers of the skin.
But wait, Sunshine gives us vitamin D and it’s integral for good health. Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D so exposure to sun will complete the needs of our body for vitamin D. To prevent deficiency of vitamin D, we need 2-3 sun exposures per week in the summer months (April to September). Each exposure should only last 20-30 minutes.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PROTECTION
Rash guard, also popularly known as rash vest or rashie. It is an athletic shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester. It protects the wearer against rashes caused by sunburn from long exposure to the sun. A rash guard is used for light coverage in warm to extreme summer temperatures for several watersports including surfing and swimming. It also recommends dark colors such as black, because it is not transparent to ultraviolet rays. There are also lower body rash guards (Rash Trencker), which are similar to compression shorts to be worn under the surfers’ board shorts, worn under a wet suit, over swim wear, or with a pair of bikini bottoms or trunks.
Hats and sunglasses are also protections you can use under the sun. There are lots of fashionable wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses (with UV rays protection) to protect your neck and face. Another way is using sunscreen, but DO NOT think of sunscreen as an alternative to avoiding the sun or covering up. It is only used in ADDITION. Meaning, use them only to give yourself greater protection but you cannot remain under the sun longer. No sunscreen is 100% effective to block the sun but only adding protection.
Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun as it takes a short time to soak into the skin and to work. Re-apply frequently, at least every two hours, and always after swimming, toweling yourself dry or excessive sweating (even those that are labeled waterproof). Re-apply to children even more often.
Sun block is different to sunscreen. Sun block is opaque and stronger than sunscreen. It is able to block most UVA and UVB rays. As with sunscreen, you should not consider sun block as an alternative to other strategies for protecting the skin against the harmful rays.
Buying sunscreens are popular during summer time, there is “water resistant for 80 minutes” that you will find in the packaging. This labeling has been tested and introduced to the market that brings longer protection while wearing it under the sun. “Water resistant for 80 minutes” is the stronger claim that can be made to indicate that the sunscreen will stay on in water. Another sunscreen product that is becoming popular is the “White Veil” sunscreen supplement. This is an oral supplement. When they go outdoors and want skin protection, take 2 tablets in the morning and you will have 24 hours of skin protection and a fairer white skin. White veil is derived from 100% herbs, and it is safe and secure as it is made in Japan.
Another product is Snow skin drop – another sunscreen supplement that is safe. It contains ingredients such as Neutrox Sun, carotenoids and cysteine, Empress herb extract, collagen, peptides.
Yarosakuri is another sunscreen supplement. If you are thinking of going to the beach, take this everyday 1 week prior as it claims more effective to stretch protection and if you get sunburned, it will speed up your sunburn recovery.
On top of this all, we have to make sure that we are properly protected from the sun rays that is creating damage to our skin. Our personal advice is to everyone especially to the younger generations who are so adventurous that they will try anything to improve their looks or protection from any harm created by nature, please consult the experts. The effects of these sunscreens topically or being taken orally, can be bad or good. Not all people will have the same reaction. Read well, observe and research. Ask your doctors regarding the product before taking them.