Sun and Sunburn

Exposure to the sun may cause sunburn, increased pigmentation, eye pain and after years of exposure skin cancer.

Skin cancer increase rapidly these years in light skinned Caucasians probably due to increased sun bathing and increased travels to tropical and subtropical areas.

The sunlight is strongest in the middle of the day and the effect is enhanced by sand, water and snow, which reflect the light.

Sunlight can therefore give burns even if you are in the shade and through loose and tight clothes.
A tropical sun can cause sunburns in light skinned individuals in less than half an hour.Protection is particularly important at the beginning of the journey.

Protection consist of:

• Using loose but tight woven clothes
• Protecting the skin by using an ointment with a high protective factor against the suns UV light for instance factor 20. The ointment should be applied every few hours and after swimming. Children can use the ointment.
• Use UV rated sunglasses, hat and a parasol
• Children are more easily sunburned than adults and need extra protection like clothes or a parasol.

Related Content

• Yellow Fever
• Women account for majority of Brazil’s population ?
• Venomenous Bites
• Tuberculosis
• The Travel Pharmacy
• Tetanus
• Signs of Life: Health
• Second stage of the vaccination campaign against Polio.
• Recommended Vaccinations
• Rabies