Stay Safe with Sunscreen, Sunglasses and Plenty of Water
The debate around sunscreen safety heated up with last year’s recall of some popular consumer products containing chemicals such as benzene, which is absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. Yet according to the FDA, the American Academy of Dermatology and other experts, there is minimal evidence that systemic absorption of these ingredients is toxic or harmful to health. Nevertheless, the ingredient has been eliminated from most sunscreens currently being manufactured, making it easy to find an oxybenzone-free product. Most sunscreens are rated by the FDA as GRASE, meaning they are “generally recognized as safe and effective.”
“Use of a broad-spectrum, SPF 30 sunscreen effectively blocks UVB and UVA rays to prevent sunburn,” says Dr. Andrea Murina, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine and director of the University Medical Center’s dermatology clinics. “This not only reduces the risk of developing skin cancer but also decreases signs of early aging on your skin (such as wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin) and stops existing melasma from darkening and new patches from appearing.”
When applied correctly, a water-resistant, SPF 30 sunscreen is optimal, blocking 97% of UVB rays. “A higher SPF is fine, but only incrementally blocks more rays, and the time and duration of effectiveness is the same,” says Murina. It needs to be applied every two hours.
Seek shade when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Like sunscreen, sunglasses are vital in blocking the harmful effects of UV radiation. UVA and UVB rays can cause increased risk of conditions such as cataracts, eye cancers and growths on the eye, as well as premature aging of the delicate skin around your eye. Choose sunglasses that block 99% or 100% of all UV light or are listed as having UV absorption up to 400nm. Wear them even when it’s hazy or cloudy, as UV light can pass right through clouds.
Finally, drink up when you’re out in the sun. Drinking water helps to lower your body temperature and replaces the fluids you lose through sweating. This is particularly important for older adults whose body’s fluid reserve becomes smaller and thirst sense decreases as they age. Be aware of the most common signs of dehydration: lightheadedness, fatigue, dizziness, less frequent urination, dark-colored urine—and rehydrate promptly with cool water.
Safe Travels
If you are travelling internationally, you should contact our office four to six weeks before your trip. Here are some pre-planning recommendations.
✹ COVID-19: Get tested for COVID-19 as close to the time of your departure as possible (no more than three days before travel). Do not travel if you have COVID-19 symptoms, if you tested positive or if you are in quarantine due to possible exposure.
✹ Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at CDC.gov/travel and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites for the most up-to-date travel alerts, advisories and recommendations. Immunizations needed will vary based on your health condition, immunization history, countries and regions on your itinerary, and duration of your visit.
✹ Update your routine immunizations to protect against increased risk of exposure to illnesses such as seasonal flu, diphtheria, varicella (chickenpox), measles, mumps and rubella. For quick guidance on additional immunizations you may need, try the online tool at GlobalTravEpiNet: https://gten.travel/trhip/trhip and cdc.gov/travel
✹ To protect yourself from the serious diseases spread by mosquitos, such as dengue fever and malaria, bring an EPA-registered insect repellent with an active ingredient like DEET or picaridin.
✹ Pack your prescription medications and carry them with you on the plane. Don’t pack them in your luggage. Consider bringing over-the-counter medicines, such as anti-diarrheal medicine, antacids, antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream, motion sickness medicine, cough medicine, pain and fever medicine, and a mild laxative.
Sources: FDA, American Academy of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, American Academy of Ophthalmology, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Skin Cancer Foundation