August 2022 Parenta magazine

Sun safety for
practitioners and
So far this summer we can’t complain
about our ‘traditional British summer’
which is usually a colloquialism for ‘lots
of cloud and rain, especially on bank
holidays!’
None of that this year though as
temperatures have already broken records
and large parts of the country have seen
over 30 degrees Celsius for a few days in a
row as the heatwave hit.
But as tempting as it is to dash out to do
a spot of sun-bathing to catch up on the
last two years of lost summer holidays,
make sure you think about some basic sun
safety first, and act to guard against the
harmful rays that we don’t see, but can be
devastating if ignored.
The benefits of the sun
There is no doubt that most of us feel
better when the sun is out. Sunlight is
essential for the planet and for our human
health and well-being. There are many
health benefits of sunlight on our skin
including:
• The production of vitamin D which is
not available through diet alone and
the sun is the body’s main source of
producing vitamin D
• Support for bone health
• Lowering blood pressure
• Preventing disease
• Reducing the risk of seasonal affected
disorder (SAD) which is a form of
depression
• Promoting good mental health
through the release of serotonin
So the sun’s rays are beneficial – BUT only
when precautions have been observed
as there are many harmful effects that the
sun can have on us humans.
parents
Harmful effects of
the sun
Too much sun can have negative effects
on the body and can even be deadly.
Unprotected exposure to the sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to
the eyes, the skin and the body’s immune
system. Over time, it can cause damage to
skin cells that can lead to painful sunburn
or even skin cancer. Other harmful effects
can be dehydration, sun/heat stroke and
premature aging.
The sun’s rays are made of ultraviolet
radiation, with short wavelengths
categorised as:
• UVA - wavelengths 320 to 400 nm
(nanometres)
• UVB - wavelengths are 280 to 320 nm
• UVC - wavelengths are 100 to 280 nm
The earth’s atmosphere absorbs UVC rays
so only UVA and UVB rays get to earth.
UVB rays are more damaging than UVA
rays and are a higher risk of causing skin
cancer. But UVA rays are still damaging
causing aging, wrinkling and a loss of skin
elasticity, and the combination of the two
can be very detrimental.
When these rays hit the skin, they
penetrate the upper layers of the
epidermis and trigger cells called
melanocytes to produce melanin. Melanin
is the brown pigment that causes the skin
to tan and is the body’s way of protecting
skin from burning. If the UV damage
exceeds the response that the body can
offer, then a sunburn develops. If this
bombardment continues, then skin cancer
can develop.
Skin cancer is the most common form or
cancer in the UK with rates continuing
to rise. There are at least 100,000 new
cases diagnosed every year and sadly,
over 2,500 people die each year, many of
which are preventable deaths.
Staying safe in the sun
Obviously, we need to keep the children
we look after safe in the sun, and there
is a lot of information out there to help us
do this. If children suffer severe sunburn
as children, then they have a greater risk
of developing skin cancer in later life. But
it is also important that practitioners and
parents also look after themselves in the
sun too.
Shade, clothing and hats!
Keeping your skin out of the sun is the first
line of defence against sun damage, so
seeking shady areas is a good start. Avoid
the sun when the rays are strongest which
tends to be between 11am and 3pm when
the sun is more directly overhead. If you
can’t find shade, then covering up is the
next best thing. Cover as much of your skin
as possible, especially the shoulders which
burn easily. Wide-brimmed hats cover the
head and offer protection for the face, ears
and neck. Obviously, we also want to be
able to enjoy the sun and get the benefits
on our skin too at times, and in very hot
weather, most of us shed clothing, so
shade becomes more important. If you are
swimming, consider wearing a T-shirt and
wetsuits are good for adults and children
alike as they cover most of the body.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential in the sun as
some skin types can burn in as little as
10 minutes. Use at least a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and children
should use a SPF50. The higher the star
rating, the more protection the sunscreen
offers and remember to use a lip protection
sunscreen as well. Sunscreen should
be applied liberally and on all exposed
areas and it should be reapplied often, at
least every 2 hours and especially after
swimming. Waterproof sunscreens will
offer more protection whilst swimming and
also tend to stay on better in the heat as
people sweat. Remember that sunscreens
have an expiry date, so it’s best to buy new
sunscreen each year.
Sunglasses
Eyes should be protected from the glare
of the sun too and no one should ever
look directly at the sun. There are a lot of
different sunglasses on the market but ‘all
sunglasses are not created equal’ so shop
around for ones that filter our UV radiation
or have an EU quality kitemark. Some
sunglasses are styled to wrap-around
the side of the head offering even more
protection.
Stay hydrated
In hot weather it is important to stay
hydrated. People tend to sweat more
so need to replenish lost water. It’s
recommended to drink at least 2 litres of
fluids each day and more in hot weather.
Seek advice and
treatment
If you are concerned about a mole or other
marks that appear on the skin, then it is
best to seek advice from your doctor early.
Most skin cancers are curable if they are
found and treated in good time. After all,
it’s better to be safe than sorry. There are a
number of apps that track skin and moles
which are commercially available too.
Sunstroke and heat
exhaustion
f someone is suffering from sunstroke or
heat exhaustion, try to move them to a
cool place and cool them down. If they
become short of breath or unconscious, call
999. See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/
heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/ for more
information.
See the NHS website on sun safety at:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonalhealth/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
and
how to cope with heatwaves here.
For more specific advice on keeping babies
and children safe in the sun, see:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/firstaid-and-safety/safety/safety-in-the-sun/
https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/
getting-out-about-your-baby/summer-yourbaby/sun-safety-for-kids
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
articles/benefits-of-sunlight
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/
skin-and-hair/a3629/sunbathing/
32 August 2022 | parenta.com
parenta.com | August 2022 33