The sun's good, bad and ugly

SHADE SEEKER: Stay out of the sun from 11am-3pm and apply an antioxidant-rich sunscreen.

THE sun is shining and it is time to play outdoors. Most of us know that we cannot spend too much time in the New Zealand sun without any protection whether this is clothing, sunscreen, hats or preferably all of the above, otherwise we will see and feel the damaging effects, even if this is just a tan. I can hear you say “but I look so healthy when I have a tan, and my cellulite does not look as bad when I am brown!”

Well, we have Coco Chanel from the 1920s to thank for this impression, as she was the first fashionable image we had of tanning light skin. If you were tanned, you looked wealthy and to come back from holiday looking gorgeously brown was very on-trend.

To tan or not to tan, that is the question. To expose yourself to the sun or to avoid the sun, is a controversial topic. There have been many debates on this subject. On one hand, we need some sun to produce the much-needed vitamin D that is made by exposing the skin to UVB — this in turn works on the chemical compound 7-dehydrocholesterol present in the skin to produce inactive vitamin D3 and this will not be used until the liver and kidneys turn it into active vitamin D.

This active vitamin D is essential for many processes that occur in the body. These can include the prevention of many degenerative diseases, including cancer. Vitamin D improves the absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus required for bone formation. It helps to maintain a stable nervous system, aids in skin repair, skin-cell production and healthy hair follicles.

All this becomes very confusing — we want to stay healthy, but we know that the sun has many damaging effects as well. Sunburn at any age increases the risk for melanoma. UVB radiation is the sun’s burning rays, and this reaction is immediate, as soon as you are exposed to the sun.

UVA rays are the sun’s silent killers. You do not feel them, but they are the primary cause of skin cancer, wrinkles and a weakened immune system. Light and rays are measured in nanometers. UVA I and II rays are between 320nm to 400nm which means they penetrate the skin to greater depth than UVB rays that measure between 290nm to 320nm.

The next matter is the one that I find the most interesting. The issue is the confusion surrounding the Sun Protection Factor. The SPF reading on a product determines how long you can stay in the sun before getting burned.

Confusion over ratingsManufacturers in most countries and many dermatologists insist that the higher the SPF rating, the better protected you are from the sun, while leading scientists studying sun protection maintain that an SPF of between 15 and 20 is enough to protect the skin. An SPF 15 filters out about 95 percent of UVB rays and an SPF 30 filters out around 97 percent of the UVB rays.

But what about the UVA rays? In most countries, there are no numbers to tell you about protection from UVA rays. You need to look at ingredients for protection against UVA radiation, and these need to be listed near the top, in the active ingredients. These ingredients include zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb.

Sunscreens that claim to be “waterproof” are now believed to be misleading, and the word has been banned in some countries. The word “sunblock” is not considered accurate either as the creams do not block 100 percent of the UV rays. You need to reapply your sunscreen after swimming and perspiration.

The best sunscreen will include antioxidants that mop up the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are charged atoms that cause damage to the genetic code of the cell, leading to complex, abnormal tissue growth patterns.

Choose a sunscreen that includes antioxidants, so the free radicals caused by the ultraviolet light breaking down the O2 molecule can be neutralised before the damage starts. Environ RAD sunscreen includes vitamins C and E and beta-carotene. Reapply your antioxidant-rich sunscreen every two hours or after swimming and exercise.

In addition, eat a variety of fruit and vegetables as this helps to increase the anti-oxidant levels and aids in protecting the skin from the inside.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that can help to protect the skin from UV damage and the redness caused by the UV rays. Studies show that lycopene is increased by cooking and rendering the tomatoes down to a paste or sauce.

To be sun-wise enjoy some sun on your arms and legs but keep the exposure to between 10 and 20 minutes. Between 11am and 3pm seek shade. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothing in close-weaved cotton to protect your skin. Keep reapplying your antioxidant-rich sunscreen, sit back and relax with your antipasto including sun-dried tomatoes and maybe wash it down with a tomato juice.