Becoming Sun Smart

We know we need to “slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on sunscreen” when out in the sun. But did you know the damage done to young skin is what may cause skin cancer in later life. Many people die from this preventable disease every year because they did not protect their skin, especially when they were young.

Remember to choose a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and a broad spectrum that block out UVA and UVB rays. These rays are part of sunlight and have different effects on the skin. It doesn’t have to be a very hot or sunny day for damage to occur to your skin – you can get badly burnt on cloudy days and even in the snow.

UVA rays

These rays penetrate deep into the skin and cause early ageing and wrinkles. UVA rays also contribute to the development of skin cancer.

UVB rays

These cause even more problems. The amount of UVB is not influenced by the air temperature. UVB rays penetrate the upper layer of the skin and cause sunburn. Later in life, UVB damage may become cancerous. Overexposure can also cause wrinkles.

What are pimples?

We know them as pimples, spots or zits. The simple fact is about 85 per cent of teenagers will have pimples at some stage during puberty, and more boys than girls get them. They occur mainly on the face, chest, back and scalp and often when you least want them.

Pimples are caused by the extra oil being produced by the oil glands in your skin during puberty. The oil usually travels to the surface of your skin along the hair follicles. Skin bacteria then overgrow and release enzymes that can lead to inflammation and blockage of the hair follicles.

You can usually treat acne by simply following a simple cleansing routine every day at home. For more severe cases, see a doctor.

Understanding pimples

Your skin actually thickens during puberty. The increase in oil production, combined with the cell growth around the sweat glands can make it difficult for the oil to escape the surface of the skin.

Sometimes the oil duct is blocked on the surface of the skin. Following UV activation, the oil turns dark as melanin is drawn into the oil plug. Black spots (blackheads) appear on the skin. When oil is trapped lower down in the skin a whitehead forms.

Blackheads or a whitehead can become infected and then erupt into a pimple or a pus-filled cysts. Pimples are red, sore and can cause scarring if they are not properly treated.

So how can we avoid them? There are many myths about what causes pimples like eating chocolate and fatty foods but a healthy diet is more important. Eating carbohydrates that are more slowly absorbed (they have a low GI) is a good idea and may reduce the severity of acne. Most importantly good food, plenty of water and exercise will help to keep your skin looking at its best. So get out there – but don’t forget the sunscreen!