HOW TO PROTECT AND TAKE CARE FOR YOUR SKIN ON A SUNNY DAY

These days in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City are the hottest days of the year, with a very high threshold of ultraviolet radiation, which seriously affects people’s health. Hot weather increases the negative impact of ultraviolet rays. Moreover, the amount of smoke, dust, and ultrafine dust emitted from traffic and constructing buildings also directly and negatively impacts on human health and skin.

In general, the simplest and most effective way is to avoid going out during midday hours (between 11:00 and 16:00). This is the period of time when a huge amount of dust is emitted from the crowded traffic and the ultraviolet rays can strongly affect the skin. Moreover, due to the complication of the COVID-19 epidemic, staying at home and not gathering in crowded areas are highly recommended by the Government and the Ministry of Health.

However, if it is necessary to go out during the period of time mentioned above, people should remember 3 main points :

Wear clothes that can cover the whole skin:

• Clothes such as long sleeves, jackets, hats, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, gloves, dark clothes, thick fabrics, … can cover your skin from the sunlight.
• This can help your skin avoid exposing directly to ultraviolet rays.

Always use sunscreen:

• How to choose sunscreen:
  • When going out, it is essential to choose sunscreen products that are suitable for your skin and do not cause skin irritation.
  • You should prefer products with an SPF of 30 or higher. However, the higher the SPF number is, the higher the risk of skin irritation is. So, you should choose a product with an SPF of 30 to 50.
  • Choosing sunscreen products that have additional effects such as: tightening pores, concealing, …is not recommended. Because if you use these products for a long time, it will be very harmful to your skin.
• When to apply sunscreen:
  • For the most effective protection, the cream should be applied 20-30 minutes before going out and reapplied every 2-3 hours.
  • It must be noticed that sunscreen should be used daily, even on cool or cloudy days, because UV rays are always present.
• Caution for pregnant or lactating women:
  • It is necessary to read carefully the caution and instruction for each sunscreen before using in order to choose the suitable product.

Always wear a mask:

• Especially in the period of COVID-19 epidemic, the mask is an important thing. In addition to preventing the transmission of the disease in the community, the mask is also the shield of your face , which protects your skin from directly exposing to the sunlights.
• Choosing a suitable mask: Wearing a poor quality, improper, unhygienic mask makes your skin rough, painful, easily have acne and inflammation. So, you should choose medical masks that have many layers, including activated carbon layer and smooth, absorbent layer inside, or well-qualified protective cloth masks to prevent the negative effects listed above.
• Use mask in the right way:
  • You should wash your hands and avoid touching your face while removing the mask.
  • Medical masks should only be used within a day and should not be reused.
  • Cloth masks should be washed and dried with sunlight every day to ensure its hygiene
  • Contaminated masks should be changed immediately
  • Make sure that you wear the mask properly
  • Always remember to remove makeup, wash your face at the end of each day to avoid skin irritation, allergies, pimples, …
• Besides, dust, fine dust, exhausted fumes, … which exist both in the street and in your house, can also do harm to your skin. So, you should regularly wash your hands, your face, and your body, especially after going outside. It is important to choose the right shower gel, which is friendly to your skin, originated from nature, and can remove dirt, and restore your inherent smooth skin.

Source: Dr. Huynh Thi Xuan Tam, Dermatology Clinic, Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University General Clinic.