Wednesday 22 june 2011

Get a tan while being safely protected.

Chat session conducted by Dr Wafa OUAZZANI, Dermatologist.



Chat session transcript :


Question 1
Internet user : I would like to know how often I must reapply sun cream to get maximum protection?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You must apply a thick layer of sun cream every two hours.


Question 2
Internet user : Hello, my sister is pregnant and I would like to know whether sun creams protect against pregnancy masks and, if so, which factor would be most appropriate?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : She needs to apply a thick layer of high factor cream (SPF 50+), several times a day, onto her face, especially during the last two trimesters and while she is breastfeeding.


Question 3
Internet user : Are there any parts of the body which must be more protected because they are more fragile?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Yes, particular attention must be paid to protecting the décolleté, face, the back of the hands and the instep.


Question 4
Internet user : What is after-sun cream for?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : After-sun cream is used to moisturise the skin and prolong the tan.


Question 5
Internet user : What is the sun resistance capital?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : The sun resistance capital is our capacity to tan throughout our lifetime. If you have exhausted your sun resistance capital before you turn 20 (intense exposure during childhood), you can no longer expose yourself to the sun without running the risk of skin cancer.


Question 6
Internet user : I would like to know whether the new monoi oils with a sun protection factor are really efficient.
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : All monoi oils are dangerous because they reflect UV rays and burn the skin. For a high protection factor, you need a cream formulation.


Question 7
Internet user : Should the hair be protected from the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Of course, the hair also needs protection. Protective oils with a sun protection factor are available in pharmacies or at your hairdresser's.


Question 8
Internet user : Is it really necessary to protect myself from the sun in cloudy weather?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Of course, it is imperative to protect yourself when the weather is overcast because UV rays penetrate the clouds!



Question 9
Internet user : Is there such a thing as total sun block?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : No, there is no such thing as total sun block, only very high protection.


Question 10
Internet user : Is there a time of day when exposure is not recommended?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You should avoid exposure between 12.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.


Question 11
Internet user : What sun protection factor do I need for mountain treks?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Exposed areas must be protected (décolleté, arms and legs). In addition, sun exposure is more intense in the mountains, so you need to protect yourself with an SPF 50+ sun cream and wear suitable clothing.

Question 12
Internet user : Can you get a sunburn in the water?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Of course, you can get sunburn while in the water as water reflects UV rays.


Question 13
Internet user : What should be done when blisters appear on the skin as a result of too much exposure to the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Blisters are second-degree burns. This must be avoided, as the skin keeps track of everything and must be well protected.
I recommend that you see your dermatologist so that he/she can treat this burn.


Question 14
Internet user : Should cream be applied under the clothes of young children and, if so, what type of cream?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You need to either put clothes on them or apply cream. It is not necessary to apply cream onto the areas of the child which are well covered.


Question 15
Internet user : Hello, as I have the skin of a redhead, I use a 50+ protection factor but it protects me so well that it prevents me from getting a tan. Can you recommend a product?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : People with the skin of a redhead cannot tan, as skin pigmentation results from the action of melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, a coloured pigment. There are 2 types of melanin: pheomelanin (red or orange melanin, potentially photo-aggressive, which means that it produces free radicals) and eumelanin (brown or black melanin with photoprotective power).
Red-haired persons only produce pheomelanins, which is why they cannot tan and must protect themselves by using a SPF 50+ sun cream.

 
Question 16
Internet user : What should our attitude be for the exposure of children under 3 to the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Avoid exposing children under 3 to the sun, above all between 12.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. and in hot periods.


Question 17
Internet user : Should I change my sun cream every year? Some people hold on to it for 2 or even 3 years. What do you think?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Once a sun cream is open, you cannot use it for more than 6 months. In addition, people using these sun creams that have been opened for a long time run the risk of allergic contact eczema.


Question 18
Internet user : What protection do you recommend for pregnant women?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Pregnant women should not spend too much time in the sun. The most important area to protect is the face because of pregnancy masks.


Question 19
Internet user : Does a 30 factor cream guarantee double the protection of a 15 factor cream?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Yes, absolutely.


Question 20
Internet user : Should cream be reapplied immediately after swimming?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : There is no such thing as a genuinely waterproof sun cream; it must be reapplied frequently, in particular for children. All the more so as ultraviolet rays are reflected by the water in a swimming pool.

Question 21
Internet user : Can I combine sunbed sessions and exposure to the sun? Which is less harmless for the skin and under what conditions?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : If you combine traditional exposure to the sun with sunbed sessions (4 times more toxic than natural sun), you run a very high risk of developing skin cancer a few years later.


Question 22
Internet user : What should be done in case of sunburn? Apply sun cream onto the affected area or wear a T-shirt?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : It is useless to put sun cream onto sunburn; you must apply a moisturising and soothing cream. It is imperative to wait for the sunburn to heal before exposing yourself to the sun again.


Question 23
Internet user : How much cream should I apply for effective protection against sunburn? Should I lightly massage the skin or simply put on the product?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You need to put on a generous amount of product and then massage. The cream must not be invisible on the skin after application. If it is, you haven't used enough product.


Question 24
Internet user : What should I apply onto burns of more than 10 years old which are still sensitive?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You should no longer expose this area to the sun at all as the skin will remember this burn. Show this area to your dermatologist once a year.


Question 25
Internet user : My mother has already had several forms of benign and malignant skin cancer. Am I more likely to develop this pathology? Is there a hereditary factor in the appearance of skin cancer?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Yes, there is a hereditary factor which predisposes to melanoma. There are several categories of melanoma, and it is now possible, in certain major hospitals, to detect these genetic markers via a blood sample.


Question 26
Internet user : After getting a tattoo, how long should I wait before I can spend time in the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : We do not recommend permanent tattoos (risk of hepatitis C). If you have just had a tattoo, avoid the sun for 1 to 2 months.


Question 27
Internet user : Do self-tanning lotions protect the skin against the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : No. The skin colour achieved by the use of a self-tanning product results from the superficial oxidation of melanin. It has nothing to do with the tanning mechanism. However, the use of self-tanning lotions is a very good alternative for those who cannot spend time in the sun but wish to have a tanned complexion.


Question 28
Internet user : My husband's skin is black. He sometimes tells me that he got sunburned. Is it possible? Should he use a protective sun cream and, if so, what factor?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Black skin types must be protected as they also burn in the sun. However, a sun protection factor of 15 or 20 is sufficient.


Question 29
Internet user : How do you visually recognise skin cancer?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma; it is characterised by the transformation of a beauty mark.
To identify the beauty marks likely to be dangerous, you must examine the person's skin by following the AICD rule: A for Asymmetry, I for Irregular edges, C for Colours (charcoal black or multicolour) and D for Diameter (the diameter of the beauty mark increases). If the beauty mark examined is Asymmetrical, with Irregular edges, its Colour is charcoal black or multicolour and its Diameter varies, you are probably dealing with a melanoma.


Question 30
Internet user : From what period of the year do I need to start protecting myself against the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : For Western Europe, apart from special circumstances (exposure to the sun in the mountains), protection is recommended from 1st May to 30th September.


Question 31
Internet user : How long can a 9-month old baby be exposed to the sun with sun cream and under an umbrella?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : UV rays can penetrate the umbrella, reflect off the sand and reach the baby. Therefore babies should ABSOLUTELY NOT be exposed to the sun.


Question 32
Internet user : Which is preferable, cream or spray?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : It depends on your own preference. They provide the same protection.

Question 33
Internet user : Can I use any type of sun cream when I am in the mountains or is there a specific type of protection?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You need to buy an SPF 50+ sun cream in a pharmacy from one of the traditional dermocosmetic brands.


Question 34
Internet user : Are mixed-race or black skin types less prone to cancer or premature ageing due to their pigmentation?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Black or mixed-race skin types are indeed less likely to suffer from skin cancer or premature ageing because they have a lot of melanin (notably eumelanin, the brown or black type of melanin with a photoprotective power) and are therefore better protected against the sun.


Question 35
Internet user : Do spray creams and cream in tubes have the same formula and efficiency? Which ones should I go for?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : They are equally efficient. Cream or spray: choose the texture that you prefer!


Question 36
Internet user : Is there any way to determine whether you are likely to be allergic to one cream and not another? In other words, what are the most allergenic ingredients?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Nowadays, fragrance is the most allergenic ingredient. The more fragrance a sun cream contains, the higher the risk of contact allergy.


Question 37
Internet user : Is it dangerous for the baby to stay out in the sun for too long when you are pregnant? Is it enough to protect your belly with sun cream?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Even if you apply a protective cream, exposure to the sun remains a danger for you and your baby. However, you can swim in the sea and, once you are out of the water, stay out of the sun's rays.


Question 38
Internet user : Do elderly people need to protect themselves against the sun and, if so, using what factors?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : It depends on the person's skin type, not age. In any case, it is important to continue protecting oneself.


Question 40
Internet user : Do sun creams prevent you from tanning?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : No, sun creams even make tanning more progressive and longer lasting.


Question 41
Internet user : I am 60 years old and I have very fair skin with freckles. What sun protection will help me avoid liver spots, which are different from freckles?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : I recommend that you use an SPF 50+ sun cream in summer. You can ask your dermatologist to treat your liver spots during the winter.


Question 42
Internet user : I have very pale skin, I am a redhead. Can you recommend a sun protection product adapted to my skin?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Firstly, it would be preferable to prepare your skin with a betacarotene-based food supplement 2 weeks before you go on your summer holiday. When you are out in the sun, use thick layers of sun cream with maximum factor (SPF 50+) and reapply every two hours.
Redheads only burn in the sun; they cannot tan.


Question 43
Internet user : Does an SPF 50+ protective cream prevent you from tanning?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : There is no such thing as total sun block. Even with a 50+ factor, it is possible to tan. Tanning is progressive and long lasting.


Question 44
Internet user : From what age can a baby be exposed to the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : From the age of 3. Moderately so if the baby has fair skin.

Question 45
Internet user : What causes the appearance of beauty marks? Can it be due to excessive exposure to the sun or poor protection?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : There are many causes behind the appearance of beauty marks. The family factor comes into play, as does the childhood history of sun exposure. New beauty marks can appear every year.


Question 46
Internet user : Every year, before my skin gets tanned, my arms and neck become covered in small spots, even though I am careful to expose myself progressively and always use sun protection. What should I do to avoid these terribly itchy spots?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : This allergy to the sun is very frequent; it is known as benign summer light eruption. To prevent it, you must take an internal treatment 2 weeks before exposing yourself to the sun and, if it appears anyway, the dermatologist must prescribe antihistamines and a cortisone cream.

Question 46
Internet user : Am I sufficiently protected if I use a 50+ factor sun cream or do I also need to wear protective clothing when out in the sun?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : You either need to apply thick layers of the SPF 50+ cream or put on adapted protective clothing. You don't need to do both.


Question 47
Internet user : What type of sun protection would you recommend for the uniform tan of sensitive skin?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : A sun cream is available which helps tanning while protecting sensitive skin: Photoderm Bronz.


Question 48
Internet user : In view of all that we hear, what is ultimately best for our health and the environment: traditional products with a chemical filter or organic products using a natural filter but also nanotechnologies?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : All products sold in pharmacies (using traditional filters) are extremely controlled, while organic products sold over the counter can cause serious skin reactions.


Question 48
Internet user : Is the protection provided by organic products efficient?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : If the organic product is purchased in a pharmacy and recommended by your pharmacist, it can be efficient.


Question 49
Internet user : What is the best anti-UVA protection currently available on the market?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : In pharmacies, all products from "reputable" laboratories provide quality anti-UVB as well as anti-UVA protection.


Question 50
Internet user : I have the skin of a blonde, which burns very quickly. What do you recommend?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : I recommend an oral food supplement 2 weeks before you go out in the sun, and for 30 days after this, and a high protection factor sun cream.


Question 51
Internet user : Knowing that exposure to the sun for 20 minutes a day is enough to provide the recommended daily intake of vitamin D, is the benefit of vitamin D the same when you protect yourself with a high protection cream? Is it preferable to stay unprotected when the sun's rays are almost safe?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : It is possible to stay unprotected for a few minutes to let UVB rays produce a sufficient amount of vitamin D.


Question 52
Internet user : I no longer have a lot of acne and, my having skin a little too fair for my liking, I would like my face to be a little tanned. However, when I was younger, I was "traumatised" by the sight of one of my friends who returned to school with extensive rashes due to the sun. It took her 2 years to get rid of them. I wonder if I can tan without worrying about the consequences by using sufficient protection?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : The sun is a false friend of acne: intense exposure in summer will cause a relapse of acne some time later (several weeks). This is due to the fact that exposure to the sun thickens the skin; therefore acne does not disappear but is "buried" under the skin. It will suddenly resurface a few weeks later.
This is why you should be careful; don't forget to systematically protect yourself against the sun by using a specific sun cream for oily skin. Don't worry: even with a high SPF product, you will manage to get a tan.


Question 53
Internet user : Can you tell me more about chemical filters?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Mineral filters are recommended for children, but adults with no specific problems can use the chemical filters found in sun creams sold in pharmacies.


Question 54
Internet user : What should I do to make my tan last longer? Does the intake of specific food supplements 1 month before exposure facilitate the tan? What should I do before and after the holiday?
Dr Wafa OUAZZANI : Pour prolonger votre bronzage, vous pouvez prendre des gélules pendant 1 à 2 mois et l’appliquer, chaque jour, en été, un après-soleil.

^{To make your tan last longer, you can take capsules for 1 to 2 months and apply an after-sun product every day in summer.}