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UV Rays: Aesthetic Doctor Sheds Light on How You Can Reverse the Damage and Protect Your Skin

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Dr Chin Yee Choong

January 7th, 2020· 5 min read

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I just want to be prepared...

Are you planning that idyllic holiday at the beach soon? Or are you a lover of the great outdoors? While you soak up the sunshine, you should be aware of how much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays you are getting. Too much of it can cause more than just an uncomfortable sunburn!

Read on to learn how to protect yourself from harmful UV rays while still having fun in the sun.

What is ultraviolet radiation?

ultraviolet-radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the sun. There are different types of UV rays [1]:

  • Ultraviolet A (UVA): Penetrates deep into the skin and causes the skin to age faster, leading to wrinkles and pigmentation, as well as an increased risk of skin cancer.
  • Ultraviolet B (UVB): Causes skin redness, sunburns and also increases the risk of skin cancer.

Benefits of UV rays

benefit-of-uv

You have probably heard that the sun is an excellent and natural way to get your daily dose of vitamin D. But did you know that UV rays have other benefits? Moderate levels of exposure to UV rays may even improve your mood [2].

Vitamin D

This particular vitamin helps to regulate several functions in the body. They include:

  • Insulin secretion
  • Blood pressure
  • Immunity
  • Cell propagation

In addition, vitamin D has been linked to lower chances of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Mood improvement

Vitamin D triggers the production of serotonin, an important chemical and neurotransmitter that is a natural mood regulator. It is responsible for not only regulating your mood but also your bowel movements and sleep, and making you feel happier, more focused and calmer [3].

Excessive exposure to UV rays is harmful. You should stay protected!

sunlight

While staying in the sunshine reaps benefits, there are potential downsides that you should be aware of. Repeatedly exposing yourself to high levels of UV rays has been linked to harmful effects on your body, especially the skin.

Excessive exposure to UV rays has been proven to cause multiple skin problems such as premature ageing (wrinkles), inflammation, and cancer. UV rays can also negatively affect the eyes and immune system [4].

Additionally, after you are exposed to UV rays, your skin produces a pigment called melanin which is responsible for the tanning or darkening of your skin. Melanin also helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays [5].

Repeated stimulation of melanin production leads to a variety of skin pigmentation blemishes such as melasma and age spots. Such uneven pigmentations are often seen as aesthetic flaws by many who desire a spotless and fair complexion.

Treatment methods for overexposed UV skin

overexposed-uv-skin

Wrinkles

Listed below are some ways to improve the appearance of wrinkled skin.

Medical topical creams include:

  • Vitamin A acid
  • Alpha hydroxy acid
  • Antioxidants
  • Moisturiser

Minimally invasive procedures include:

  • Chemical peel
  • Laser resurfacing
  • Botox
  • Fillers

Tanned skin

One way to lighten your skin is to exfoliate. You may purchase a scrub made for skin exfoliation to remove dead skin cells on the surface. However, do be careful of excessive physical exfoliation as it tends to irritate sensitive skin.

You may also look for skin-lightening creams that contain the following ingredients:

  • Glycolic acid
  • Kojic acid
  • Azelaic acid
  • Retinol
  • Vitamin C

These ingredients help suppress the production of melanin. However, do consult a doctor/dermatologist on the use of these creams, as a high concentration can lead to irritation.

Overusing skin-lightening products can cause paradoxical darkening of the skin. This is counter-productive.

Ways to protect against UV damage

how-to-protect-uv-damage

There are multiple ways to protect yourself from UV rays, most of which simply involve covering yourself up and limiting your exposure.

If you want to maintain youthful-looking skin and avoid premature skin ageing, follow the methods listed below to help you.

Put on sunscreen

It is recommended to use sunscreen every day, even if it seems cloudy outside. When selecting a sunscreen, make sure you pick one that is water resistant and has an SPF of 30 or higher.

Sunscreen of SPF 30 provides up to 90% protection from UV rays [6]. Put it on 20-30 minutes before heading outside as it takes time for sunscreen to be absorbed into the skin for maximum protection.

Apply sunscreen to all parts of your skin that will be exposed to the sun. This includes your ears and the back of your neck.

Do also note that you should apply an adequate amount of sunscreen to your skin. At least an ounce per 30 ml will be enough.

While you are having fun outside, do remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or every hour if you are swimming or sweating.

Cover up

Keep your arms and legs covered by wearing long sleeves and pants. Note that tightly woven dark fabric blocks out more sun than light-coloured loosely woven fabrics. If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, you may want to invest in special sun-protective material clothing for additional protection.

Don’t forget to cover your face as well! Donning a broad-brimmed hat can be a great way to shield your face from UV rays.

Wear sunglasses

Along with your skin, your eyes need protection from the sun. There are sunglasses that provide up to 99% to 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays. You should also consider sunglasses that have wraparound-style frames to limit your eyes' exposure to sunlight.

Stay in the shade

Whenever possible, you should stay in the shade to limit your exposure to UV rays. You should seek shelter especially in midday, when the UV rays are at their strongest.

If you must go out when UV rays are at their peak, try to take a sheltered route. If that is not possible, an umbrella will serve you just fine. Incidentally, black umbrellas can block out at least 90% of UV rays!

Minimise time outdoors during peak hours

There are certain times in the day where the UVI (UV Index) hits very high and extreme levels. In this period, you should avoid exposing yourself to the sun.

In Singapore, this is between 11am to 3pm [7]. Often, there is very little cloud cover during this time. If you are outside, make sure you take the precautions listed above to protect yourself from damage!

Besides that, be aware of your surroundings. Surfaces such as sand and water can reflect UV rays and may reach you even if you are under shelter. Snow can even double your exposure to UV rays [8].

Conclusion

The long-term harm of UV rays tends to outweigh its benefits. However, you should not let that stop you from going about your day and having fun with outdoor activities.

Ensure that you take the necessary precautions by following the methods highlighted above and you will have little to worry about!


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Dr Chin Yee Choong is a medical director at Dermclear Aesthetic & Laser Clinic. His area of practice is in the beauty aesthetics fields of dermatology and aesthetic medicine. In addition, he has had more than 12 years of experience in thread lifts and fillers. He also regularly travels to keep himself well-informed of the newest treatments available.

Would you like to ask any related health questions?

Read more from Dr Chin Yee Choong in his Q&A here.


Read more article: 8 Dermatologist Clinics in Singapore for Your Skin Concerns (2020)


I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Chin Yee Choong and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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