The skin is one of the organs of our body that suffers the most in this season of the year, so it is important to protect and hydrate it in order to enjoy a good health, since it is our natural barrier of protection, in this way we can avoid future diseases. On this occasion, Dr. Patricia Giglio, dermatologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, gives us recommendations for skin care this season.

What advantages and disadvantages does the sun bring to our health?

High temperatures, excessive sweating and prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can cause:

• Rash; more common in young children. It can be controlled with baths, the use of light cotton clothing and the topical use of powders or starches that prevent excessive sweating.
• Blisters; which should be treated by moisturizing the skin with cold compresses of water or chamomile, emulsions or creams without fragrances that hydrate the affected area and topical use of corticosteroids under the indication of a specialist.
• Sunburn; which are more frequent and increase the risk of developing diseases such as skin cancer, premature aging, wrinkles and/or spots.

However, it is worth mentioning that the sun also brings many health benefits, such as:

• Helps absorb vitamin D, preventing rickets and osteoporosis
• Promotes blood circulation
• Helps treat psoriasis
• Increases the production of white blood cells (our defense cells),
• Regulates the sleep cycle by favoring the production of melatonin
• Improves our mood

All these benefits will be obtained safely if the following recommendations are followed.

Recommendations for skin care

• Sun exposure must be before ten in the morning and after four in the afternoon
• The hours of exposure to the sun depend on the age of the person, the type of skin, among other factors.
• The use of sunscreen is essential for skin care and should be applied every 3 or 4 hours during the day and consider that its use is affected by various factors such as perspiration, time, water, among others.
• Sunscreen should be applied from six months of age, before that, children should not be exposed to the sun
• A protective sunscreen (SPF) greater than fifty should be considered
• Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before exposure so that it is well absorbed by the skin.
• It is a myth to think that if you use sunscreen a person cannot tan, you can always do it with caution
• It is important to keep skin healthy by hydrating it ideally after bathing, with moisturizers recommended by a specialist according to your skin type.

Dr. Patricia Giglio
Dermatologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma