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How to properly protect against strong sunlight in summer?

Today, the high temperature weather in Jiangnan, South China and other areas continues, and the Central Meteorological Observatory continued to issue a yellow warning for high temperatures this morning. Entering midsummer, with scorching heat waves and intense light, although appropriate sunlight is beneficial to the human body, excessive or prolonged exposure to the scorching sun can accelerate skin aging and, in severe cases, even trigger skin diseases. How to scientifically sunscreen in the scorching summer? Let's first understand what sunscreen really protects against? What skin problems can long-term ultraviolet radiation cause?

The ultraviolet rays in sunlight are divided into three bands, among which longwave ultraviolet rays and medium wave ultraviolet rays can penetrate the atmosphere, reaching the dermis and basal layer of the human skin, respectively. What we commonly refer to as sun protection is the protection against UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays.

Chang Xiao, Vice Chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases at Capital Medical University: First of all, we have an acute sunburn, which means that after exposure to sunlight, our skin will become very red, and even a large number of blisters will appear. The patient's condition of burning pain is very serious. In addition, prolonged exposure to sunlight can even cause various forms of itchy rash on our skin, known as polymorphous solar rash in clinical practice. This kind of rash even erupts every year after the end of this year when there is ultraviolet radiation, causing very serious skin effects on patients and a serious impact on their quality of life.

What are the differences between physical and chemical sunscreen, as well as physicochemical mixed sunscreen?

Medical staff also explained that according to the different components of sunscreen, sunscreen can be divided into physical sunscreen, mixed physical and chemical sunscreen, and chemical sunscreen. What are the differences between them? What kind of sun protection has the best effect?

Chang Xiao: Physical sunscreen is mainly composed of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, while chemical sunscreen mainly absorbs ultraviolet rays and converts them to counteract the damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet rays. Physical and chemical mixed sunscreen combines both.

Medical staff remind that when applying sunscreen, different types of sunscreen products can be chosen for different populations, especially children, and caution should be exercised when choosing sunscreen products.

Chang Xiao: In sunny environments, patients with sensitive skin choose pure physical sunscreen. The advantage of chemical sunscreen is that its texture is relatively light and thin, and after applying it, the skin's stickiness will be weaker and the skin feel will be better. Most people who are not sensitive to skin or are convenient for applying sunscreen products can choose to use a combination of physical and chemical sunscreen, which can achieve better usage effects and user experience. We suggest that children under 6 months old should still focus on shading and sun protection. Therefore, children aged 6 months to 2 years old and above can choose children's specific sun protection products.

Skin has a certain tolerance and does not need to be fully armed with hard sun protection

With the continuous high temperature weather, various types of sunscreen equipment have become a unique scenery. Various colors of sun protection jackets, masks, ice sleeves, and gloves are used by many people to protect themselves from the sun. As long as they are exposed, they use this hard sun protection method to tightly wrap their bodies from head to toe. So, is this sunscreen really what we need?

Chang Xiao: For example, during our current vacation, many patients are learning to drive at driving schools or staying outdoors for a long time. Hard sun protection can indeed achieve very, very good sun protection effects. If we are just commuting to and from work, and we have a UV exposure index of 2 to 3 within half an hour, a low or medium intensity UV exposure, our skin can actually withstand about 20 minutes of sunlight, or we can apply light and thin sunscreen products. Strict hard sun protection is not necessary in these environments and may also bring inconvenience to our lives.

How to handle tanning, redness, peeling, and blistering correctly?

In the scorching summer sun, if exposed to the sun for a long time, it can cause mild tanning and redness, and severe peeling and blistering. So what should be done when this situation occurs?

Medical staff suggest that after accidentally getting sunburned in summer, it is important to wrap ice cubes with a towel and apply cold compress as soon as possible, but be careful not to let the skin come into direct contact with the ice cubes. In addition, low sensitivity moisturizers can be used, but it is recommended to use them after 24-48 hours to minimize friction between clothing and skin. Skin repair usually takes 4 weeks, and when you have to go out, try not to apply sunscreen to the affected area.

Zhang Haiping, leader of the Psychosomatic Dermatology Collaborative Group of the Psychosomatic Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association: If the local skin turns red and hot after being exposed to sunlight, and there are no blisters, then using cold and wet compress may be able to alleviate the symptoms. If it hurts a lot, you may take some painkillers yourself, but if the symptoms are obvious or even blisters appear, you should seek medical attention in a timely manner.