Sunbathing in the summer - is it healthy or harmful?

The beginning of the hot season is not the time to sunbathe. And it’s time to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and use sunscreens. Ultraviolet contributes to the formation of wrinkles, dry skin and the appearance of burns and cancer. Therefore, it is better to be very careful when you spend time under the blazing sun.

Tanning is an attempt to protect the skin from damage to ultraviolet rays. For this purpose, individual cells – melanocytes, synthesised pigment melanin, and it spreads in the skin. Melanin causes mutations, and this increases the likelihood of skin cancer. Melanocytes can begin to actively divide and become melanoma – the most aggressive tumour, prone to metastases.

Also, ultraviolet dries the skin. This process is called skin photoaging. Ultraviolet activates enzymes that destroy the main components of the skin matrix, which provide its elasticity: hyaluronic acid and collagen. And the genes responsible for the formation of new ones cease to work, so new molecules of the intercellular matrix are not formed. That is why it’s so challenging to moisturise the skin after the sunbathing on the beach.

Ultraviolet activates herpesvirus, which persists in the cells of the epithelium or lymphocytes. It is through the activation of the sun of the virus, and at the same time weakening of the immune system, the weekend in the mountains or at sea is spoiled by a “cold” on the lips.

Proper skincare during the summer and other seasons:

• Use a sunscreen with SPF30 protection and UVA and UVB rays.
• Check the shelf life of the sunscreen. Choose a UV-protected cream throughout the year.
• Choose a product that does not contain parabens – they increase the possibility of closing pores on the skin and the formation of comedones and acne.
• If you are all day under the sun, don’t forget to refresh the cream every two hours. But it is better not to go out from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Do not rely solely on sunscreen. It reduces the proportion of rays that fall on the skin, but not completely. The longer you are under the sun, the higher the damage. Therefore, wear closed clothes, hats and sunglasses. Clothing by 27% reduces the likelihood of burns.

If you are burned, you must immediately go to the shade or room and cool the burn. Cold shower or compress will help.

Plus, a lot of liquids should be consumed, because overheating could cause dehydration of the body. It is also recommended to consume foods rich in folic acid and carotenoids: broccoli, spinach, liver, carrots, pepper, currants. It is their nutrients that will help recover from burns.