|
Many Malaysians are oblivious
to the detrimental effects of sun’s rays on their skin. Most
shrug off advice about using suncare products with the old
"a little bit of sun won't hurt" excuse. After years
of golf and/or numerous weekends at the beach, they begin to
wonder why their skin appears darker, rougher and yes--older.
Barbara Wong
has more about the sun and its ability to damage the body's
largest organ - the skin.
The
Sun and Your Skin
The skin is the body's first
line of defense against the sun and constitutes approximately 17
percent of the average person's body weight. It protects
internal organs from injury, temperature variations, germs and
other pollutants.
Skin
fact No. 1: A ten-minute daily dose of early-morning sun provides adequate
Vitamin D to keep skin healthy and beautiful.
Skin
fact No 2: Research has proved that 90% of premature
aging of the skin is caused by overexposure to the sun.
According to Dr. Ko Chung Beng of the Ko Skin Specialist Centre
in Klang, Selangor, one minute under the sun accelerates the aging process of the skin by ten hours. The sun's
rays consist of ultraviolet A and B (UVA/UVB) rays. When these
rays hit the surface of the skin, harmful components, which
accelerate the skin's aging process and are known as free
radicals, destroy the structure of the skin. Long-term exposure
to UV rays can cause leathery changes, roughness, the formation
of dark patches due to excessive pigmentation formation,
burning, thinning, wrinkling and loss of elasticity.
Wrinkles, freckle-like
blotches and rough skin are the primary telltale signs of
chronic sun exposure.
Skin
fact No. 3: The midday sun causes a person to age 600 times faster.
Golfers are most susceptible
to sun rays as they spend a minimum of three hours on the
course-often at midday. Sun-related skin problems commonly faced
by golfers include pigmentation, age spots, wrinkles, laxed
(loose) skin, thin skin (where blood vessels are more visible),
uneven skin tone and rough skin (skin cells become abnormal and
do not grow normally).
Applying sunblock before a
round is more than good practice. To be most effective sunblock
must be applied on clean, dry skin 20 minutes before stepping
out on the course. This allows it to be absorbed by the skin.
Heavy perspiration or towelling can wash/wipe off sunblock, it
is therefore advisable to re-apply every two hours.
Skin
fact No. 4: Sand and water reflect sunlight. When a person is on the water in
a pleasure boat or relaxing on a sandy beach the sun’s rays
are more damaging. The skin is exposed to the rays not once by
twice through reflected sun rays.
Corrective
Sun Treatment
With modern cosmetic
procedures, damaged skin can be helped. There are a number of
skincare treatments in the market for sun-damaged skin.
Chemical
Peeling
Skin rejuvenation via
chemical peeling became increasingly popular worldwide in the
1980s and is among one of the popular treatments at the Ko Skin
Specialist Centre. During the procedure, one or more peeling
agents are applied onto damaged skin to "peel away"
the epidermis (top layer of skin) to allow the regeneration of
new skin. Chemical peeling helps clear pigmentation problems
such as freckles and melasma/chloasma (brownish patches found on
the face), uneven skin tone, age spots, oil seeds and wrinkles.
The procedure removes the pigment cells that cause freckles.
There are three peeling
categories - superficial, medium and deep. According to Dr. Ko,
the depth of the peel depends on the patient and the severity of
the problem. A superficial peel involves the epidermis and
removes skin lesions, pigmentation, dry skin, fine wrinkles and
acne. After three to seven days of superficial peels, the skin
flakes slightly without discolouration.
Dr. Ko also says that most
patients require up to six rounds of light chemical peels.
"The number of treatments, however, ranges from patient to
patient and depends on the reason for having the peel," he
adds.
Medium peels extend beyond
the epidermis into the upper part of the dermis (the deeper
layer of the skin). Deep peeling goes down to the middle portion
of the dermis and beyond, and is recommended for patients with
coarse facial wrinkles, deep furrows and blotchy skin caused by
sun overexposure.
The skin gradually darkens
and wrinkles over four days. The skin around the mouth - the
area with the most muscle movement - will start to loosen and
peel. Peeling gradually extends backwards and the process
normally runs its course by the seventh day, although some
individuals may take up to 14 days.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves skin
lesions being destroyed through freezing with liquid nitrogen or
other low-temperature cryogens. Healthy cells grow and
eventually replace the frozen and destroyed cells. This
treatment safely removes solar keratoses in sun-damaged skin,
pigmentation, age spots, warts, benign lesions, acne, keloids (a
type of thick scarring) and moles.
"This is a common
procedure that has been around for almost 20 years,"
explained Murral Beauty House owner Sharon Toh. A qualified
beautician of 16 years, Toh added that the procedure is painfree,
quick and convenient. The treated area is likely to develop a
blister within a few hours and then a scab. The scab drops off
after five to ten days (on the face), three weeks (hand) or as
long as three months (legs).
The patient will be required
to remain indoors before the scab drops off. Depending on the
severity of the problem, patients may require up to two to three
treatments. The cost of each session depends on the size of the
treated area and skin condition.
Micro
Dermabrasion
Micro Dermabrasion is a
non-invasive alternative to healthier and younger skin. The
treatment erases epidermal layers at varying depths using
natural mineral crystals vacuumed through a delicate handpiece.
This system treats a vast range of skin problems, including
hyperpigmentation caused by the sun, uneven and granular skin,
fine and deep lines, enlarged pores, blackheads, acne scars,
stretch marks and dehydrated or discoloured skin. The procedure
is applicable to various skin types and is not restricted to
facial problems.
After the initial treatment,
patients are advised to return once a week for post-session
treatments. These sessions take about 10 to 30 minutes and
patients can resume their normal activities almost immediately.
Obagi
Nu-Derm Cream Treatment
This particular program,
developed by leading dermatologist Dr Zein E. Obagi, has been
proven to be extremely effective. The treatment, which has been
available here for the past six years, is specifically designed
to correct sun-damaged skin, pigmentation problems, blemishes,
lesions, fine wrinkles, age spots, acne and large pores.
The program comprises 10
sessions, each lasting close to two hours. Patients, who are
required to stay indoors and out of the sun as the skin turns
red after each session, can see marked improvements after the
second treatment.
Sun
Care
Sunscreen is highly
recommended if you intend to stay out in the sun for more than
20 minutes. Sunscreen utilises a protective film that either
absorbs or reflects the sun's ultraviolet rays, preventing
damaging rays from reaching the skin.
Sunscreens are classified by
the strength of their SPF range, which ranges from as low as 2
to 130. These numbers indicate the product's ability to block
out sunlight and determine how long a person can stay in the sun
without burning up. If initial burning time (i.e. time
sun-exposed skin takes to burn) is ten minutes, a sunscreen of
SPF 15 would allow a person to stay under the sun 15 times
longer (or 150 minutes) before skin starts to burn. Skin turns
red from the sun in approximately eight minutes on a
fair-skinned person and about 15 minutes on a dark-skinned
person.
Here are a number of products
available on the market:
Avene
Extreme
Sunblock Cream 60B 60A for protection
against UVA and UVB rays. Lightly tinted and non-greasy. Water
resistant.
contains MPI-Sorb, a combination of
minerals and micronised organic sunscreens
Retail price: RM65($17.11 US) (50 ml).
Total
Sunblock Spray 20B 20A (Oil Free), also with
MPI-Sorb, is for sports enthusiasts and individuals always on
the go. Comes as an easy to apply, oil-free, water resistant
formula.
Retail price: RM65($17.11 US) (125 ml).
Extreme
Sunblock Cream SPF 50 10A
Contains
Vitamin E.
is formulated for hypersensitive skin.
Contains mineral sunscreen (MPI) and is fragrance free. The reduced
mineral sunscreen particle size reduces 'white' effects while
increasing protection.
Retail price: RM65($17.11US) (50 ml).
Total
Sunblock Milk SPF 25 10A is specially formulated for baby skin.
Its gentle formula gently soothes and protects juniors from the
sun.
Retail price: RM59($15.53US) (75 ml).
City
Sunscreen Base SPF 15 can be used alone or under make-up.
Contains ultra-fine natural mineral sunblock agents to protect
skin from UV rays.
Retail price: RM65 ($17.11US)(40 ml).
Banana
Boat
Sport
Sunblock Lotion SPF 50 is sweat resistant, hypoallergenic,
non-comedogenic, non-irritating, non-greasy and fragrance free.
Also, available in SPF 15 and 30.
Retail price: SPF 15 -
RM19.50,($5.13US) SPF 30 - RM24.50,($6.45US) SPF 50 - RM31.50
($8.29US)
Face
Plus Sunblock Lotion SPF 23 is a oil-free,
hypo-allergenic and water-resistant formula suitable for normal
or breakout-prone skin. Provides UVA and UVB protection with
balanced moisturisers. Enriched with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and
Collagen/Elastic. Face Plus is a non-greasy formula for
normal/dry skin.
Retail price: RM26.50($6.97US) (4 oz).
Maximum
Sunblock Lotion SPF 50 is water resistant, fragrance free and
hypoallergenic. Ultra-moisturising with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E
to help prevent peeling and dryness. Also, available in SPF 30.
Retail price: SPF 30 -
RM24.50($6.45US), SPF 50 - RM31.50($8.29US) (90ml).
Aloe
Vera Gel provides cooling and calming after-sun relief. Use to soothe and
moisturize dry, rough and sunburned skin.
Retail price: RM16.50($4.34US) (8 oz),
RM22.50($5.92US) (16 oz).
Aloe
After Sun Lotion is made with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to
relieve peeling and dryness. This ultra-moisturising, non-greasy
lotion helps prolong tans by keeping skin moisturised. Regular
use will help keep skin soft by replacing moisture lost to
overexposure to the sun and wind.
Retail price: RM16.50($4.34US) (8 oz).
Aloe
Vera Lip Balm SPF 30 is water resistant and made from Aloe
Vera to help seal moisture on the lips. This all-season
protector protects lips from harsh ultraviolet rays while
helping prevent and relieve dryness, cracking, peeling and
chapping.
Retail price: RM7.50($1.97US) (0.15
g).
Coloured
Sunblock for Kids is purple where the product has been
applied, and it rubs clear. This non-greasy, water resistant
product absorbs quickly, is enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin
E and offers a SPF of 30. Also available in blue with berry
fragrance.
Retail price: RM29.00($7.63US) (250
ml).
Dermalogica
Waterproof
Solar Spray SPF 25 is ideal for sports-loving adults and
children. Formulated with Organic Silicones and antioxidant
essential oils to protect against moisture loss. Does not
contain alcohol. Suitable for all skin types.
Retail price: RM128.00
($33.63US)(118
ml).
Solar
Defense Booster SPF 30 is added over your moisturiser or
foundation for full protection against the sun.
Ideal for all skin conditions.
Retail price: RM159.00($41.85US) (30
ml).
Coppertone
Coppertone
Water Babies is ideal
for toddlers and babies over six months. This formula is
hypoallergenic, waterproof and protects against UVA and UVB
rays. Available in SPF 45.
Retail price: RM28.90($7.61US) (118
ml).
Original
Coppertone is suitable for teens and adults. The waterproof formula protects
against the complete range of ultraviolet rays. Available in SPF
2, 4, 8, 15, 30 and 45.
Retail price starts from
RM17.05($4.49US) (118 ml).
Coppertone
Sport's patented dry
lotion is non-greasy and ultra-sweatproof. The SPF 30 formula
provides both UVA and UVB protection.
Retail price: RM29.70($7.82US) (118
ml).
Dermax
Clinicare
Bio
Defense Sunscreen is specially formulated for
sun-sensitive skin. Contains a concentrated mix of Bio
performance ingredients and Arbutin whitening essentials.
Protects against UVA wavelengths and helps to whiten skin.
Retail price: RM160($42.11US) (60 ml).
Kanebo
Faircrea
Skin Protector UV with SPF 46 is long lasting and does
not wash off easily. Contains Lucent Powder UV particles that
prevents spots and freckles. Radical Block anti-oxidant
eliminates activated oxygen generated by UV rays and prevents
rough skin. Ideal for golfers.
Retail price: RM79.90($20.92US) (60
ml).
Murad
Daily
Defense Oil-Free Sunblock for Face SPF 15 shields the face from UVA and UAB rays. Protects and hydrates
skin. Lightly tinted formula blends well with all skin types,
especially sensitive and problematic skin. Contains PomphenolTM
Supplements. Billed as anti-aging.
Retail price: RM150.00($39.40US) (60
ml).
Hydrating
Sunscreen for Face and Body SPF 15 contains Parsol
1789 and other sunscreens for UVA/B protection. Lipids and
natural moisture factors provide hydration for normal to dry
skin.
Retail price: RM150.00($39.40US)
(125
ml).
Waterproof
Sunblock for Face and Body with SPF 30
provides longer protection against ultraviolet rays.
Contains Parsol 1789 and other sunscreens. Suitable for
sun-sensitive skin.
Retail price: RM170.00($44.74US) (125
ml).
Natopheral
Dermal
Skin Defense-E provides the benefits of sunflower
seed-derived natural Vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopherol). Maintains
skin elasticity, prevents signs of premature aging,
pigmentation, uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles and
dryness. Speeds up the healing of wounds and prevents scar
formulation. The hypoallergenic formula is preservative and
fragrance free.
Retail price: RM73.00($19.21US) (30
capsules).
Dermal
Skin Protection-Day is a SPF 30 sunscreen formulated with
100% Natural Source Vitamin E. This formula contains two
effective suncreens: Octyl methoxycinnamate and Titanium
Dioxide; 20 I.U. of d-alpha tocopherol and two light
moisturisers. Lightly-textured, non-greasy and suitable for all
skin types.
Retail price: RM63.00($16.50US) (30
capsules).
Sun
Play
Sun
Play SPF 130 Sunscreen Lotion offers the highest level of SPF sunscreen to block
off UVA and UVB rays. Ideal for Asian skin. Water-based
sunscreen keeps skin feeling fresh and smooth. Waterproof.
Retail price: RM34.90($9.19US) (45 g).
Sun
Play SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion provides high UVA and UVB protection. Water-based
formula. Product is
transparent and moisturising.
Retail price: RM27.50($7.24US) (45 g).
Sun
Play SPF 30 Lipbalm
is a high SPF moisturising lipbalm that protects lips against UV
rays. Lipbalm is enriched with Vitamin A, D, E and Aloe Vera
extracts to moisturise and restore suppleness.
Retail price: RM9.90($2.61US) (3 g).
Sunsense
Sunsense
Ultra SPF 30+ provides ultra protection even after two hours in
the water. Light, smooth and easy to apply.
Retail price: RM24.65($6.49US) (125
ml).
Sunsense
Daily Face SPF 30+ combines the benefits of a moisturiser with SPF
protection to help prevent premature ageing and wrinkling of the
skin. This product contains a sheer tint that is invisible on
the skin. It is ideal for use as a daily protective moisturiser.
The oil-free base makes it ideal for acne-prone skin.
Retail price: RM29.60($7.79US) (75 g).
Sunsense
Face Milk SPF 30+ is specially formulated for the face and neck and
is benefitial for dry skin due to its moisturising base. Light,
non-greasy and ideal for use under make-up.
Retail price: RM19.95($5.25US) (50
ml).
Sunsense
Sport Milk SPF 30+ protects water sport enthusiasts even
after four hours in the water. Two non-greasy formulations to
choose from.
Retail price: RM27.40($7.21US) (75
gm).
Side
bar story #1:
Too
Much Sun is No Fun
A tan is the skin's response
to overexposure to sunlight. The skin's outer layer, the
epidermis, becomes thicker and darker in an effort to provide a
better barrier against the sun.
Repeated acute overexposure
to the sun (commonly termed ‘sunburn’) as a major cause of
skin cancer. Recent statistics show that skin cancer cases have
gone up over the years. Sun damage is cummulative i.e. a higher
number of blisters or painful sunburns during childhood and
adolescence doubles the risk of adult skin cancer.
Examine your skin regularly
and look out for any unusual changes or growths. Skin cancer can
be cured if detected and treated early. Effective sun protection
can help prevent sunburn and skin tanning.
Side
bar story #2:
Sun
care glossary
*
Hypoallergenic: Less
likely to cause allergic reaction on skin.
*
Non-Comedogenic: Does not clog pores.
*
Oil free: Contains no oil.
*
PABA free: Product does not contain the ingredient PABA (para-aminibenzoic
acid). PABA is a common sunscreen ingredient used years ago. It
may cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
*
Sweat resistant: Dries quickly to a non-sticky finish. Continual
protection.
*
UVA rays: Aging rays that penetrate deep into the dermis (base
layer of skin) causing skin damage.
*
UVB rays: Burning rays that are the primary cause of sunburn and
skin cancer.
*
Water resistant: Product that does not wash off with water.
Continues to provide protection in or out of water.
Side
bar story #3:
Did
you know?
*
Repeated sunburns substantially increase the risk of melanoma or
skin cancer.
*
Eighty percent of lifetime sun damage occurs before the age of
18.
*
Eighty percent of the sun's damaging rays penetrate clouds.
*
UVA rays constitute 90 percent of all ultraviolet light. UVB
rays make up the remaining ten percent.
*
Sand can reflect up to 20 percent of sunlight. Water, snow and
ice reflect up to 90 percent.
*
The higher the altitude, the more exposed you are to sun’s
rays - 4 percent for every 300 metres.
|
