Saturday 20 February 2016

Seven tips for sun protection

As a Dermatologist in Bangalore, I routinely see a rush of patients suffering from sunburn and sun allergy during summer time. Bangalore despite its pleasant weather boasts of a very high UV Index (The strength of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is expressed as a Solar UV Index or Sun Index). No doubt Sun protection is my area of priority when it comes to treating sun allergy and sunburn. I would like to share few tips on sunprotection to be followed daily in Bangalore.

  1. Protect your skin with clothing, and don’t forget to wear a hat with minimum 4 inch brim that protects your face, neck and ears, and a pair of UV protective sunglasses
  2. UV protective sunglasses are a must
  3. Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny
  4. When choosing a sunscreen look for a high protection SPF (SPF 30 or more) to protect against UVB, and the UVA circle logo and/or 4 or 5 UVA stars to protect against UVA.
  5. Apply plenty of sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply every two hours and straight after swimming, towel-drying and strenuous exercise. 
  6. Sunscreens should not be used as an alternative to clothing and shade, rather they offer additional protection. No sunscreen will provide 100% protection. Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight as far as possible. 
  7. It may be necessary to take Vitamin D supplement tablets as strictly avoiding sunlight can reduce Vitamin D levels. (You should ask your doctor or dermatologist Dr. Divya Sharma about this)
Dr Divya Sharma is a practicing dermatologist at Whitefield Bangalore. The data shared in this blog is her personal opinion based on her knowledge and experience. The author is not responsible for any adverse event that arises out of following blog opinion


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