Summer is a most awaited season here in the Philippines. The kids and other students get to have their vacation with families, and it’s also the perfect time to go to the beach with friends. Basically, it’s a time when people can go on various trips out in the sun and enjoy themselves without worrying about literally getting rain on their parade.
However, it is important to remember that it is not all fun under the sun, especially since you can still get common diseases like cough and colds; which is why medicines for you to tackle them are very much available in all Philippine drugstores even during the summer months.
At this time of the year, however, the most important illnesses you need to be wary of are sun-related ones that can cause permanent damage to your skin. Here are a few things to protect yourself against:
Sunburn
Sunburn occurs when the melanin in your skin has been exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays for a long period of time. There are two types of sunburn: minor and severe. The symptoms of minor sunburns involve your skin becoming red, tight, and itchy. Severe sunburns, on the other hand, causes shock, weakness, fever, chills, and blisters.
Treatment
- Apply aloe vera ointments or lotion to the sun burnt areas
- If you wish to reduce pain, take ibuprofen or aspirin
- Remain hydrated by drinking water
- Once skin begins to peel, don’t irritate the new skin for it is very sensitive and may lead to further issues
- Consult your doctor if you are feeling faint or having severe blisters
Age spots
Too much sun exposure also causes age spots to appear on your skin. Normally, this happens when you grow older because your body’s natural ability to fight off UV rays is beginning to deteriorate. Its most common symptom is the brown markings that appear on your arms, back, shoulders, feet, hands, and face.
Treatment
- Fade or bleaching creams can reduce the pigmentation on your skin. You can also choose to apply alpha hydroxy lotion or get laser surgery to get rid of them
Sun allergy
Photosensitivity or sun allergy only affects a few people. Individuals with this skin condition tend to burn easily and often develop severe sunburns. The symptoms of this disease are blistered and scaly areas on skin, burning sensation, itching, red or pink rashes which appears 24 hours after sun exposure.
Treatment
- Phototherapy
- Natural medications such as adenosine monophosphate, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, fish oil, and beta-carotene
Polymorphous light eruption
Polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) mostly affects women whose ages are between 20 to 40 years old. Individuals, who are quite sensitive to sunlight, are also affected. Some of its symptoms include burning sensation, dry patches, itchiness, raised areas of skin, and a pink or red bumpy rash.
Treatment
- Avoiding sunlight exposure
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Doctor prescribed steroids
Skin cancer
One of the most deadly sun-related skin diseases one may encounter, though not as common as the previous ones, is skin cancer. It can be acquired if skin is left unprotected under the sun’s harmful UV rays for prolonged periods of time. It comes in numerous forms, but the most common ones are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Treatment
- Consult with a doctor for a proper diagnosis and the best possible treatment
Take note of all these sun-related skin diseases to protect yourself against this summer. Don’t wait for it to happen to you and make sure you have appropriate protection by applying sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, wearing pieces of clothing like hats, long sleeved shirts, and pants, as well as bringing an umbrella everywhere you go.