SUMMER AND SUN - HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN'S SKIN AND YOURS!
The life-giving sun that we all love for its dozens of beneficial properties also hides many dangers. And the solution is one: PROTECTION!!!!
At the same time, the Greek summer that we welcome with joy and longing, can be a threat to our skin if we are not careful.
Dermatologist Athena Traiano focuses your attention on the following common summer problems:
1. SUNBURNS
Apart from the unsightly appearance and pain they cause, valid studies report that severe burns in childhood are a major predisposing factor for melanoma (a form of skin cancer) in older age. It is therefore necessary to make sun protection a way of life from infancy onwards. Some practical tips:
I. Exposure of infants < 6 months of age directly to the sun is prohibited.
II. Avoid exposure to the sun from 12 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
III. The use of sunscreen is prohibited in infants < 6 months of age.
IV. For young children it is recommended to use sunscreens with SPF > 40 with natural filters that reflect radiation as opposed to chemical filters that absorb some of it.
V. Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of the body half an hour before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours. If the child's skin becomes wet or sweaty, sunscreen application should be repeated immediately. CAUTION! Do not forget the area behind the ears, the neck, the neck, the kneecap and around the lips (this is where the most painful burns occur).
VI. Wear sunglasses, a hat and light clothing.
VII. The shade does not protect from the sun, on the contrary, on surfaces like sand the radiation is reflected even under the umbrella, so even there you still need sun protection.
VIII. If a burn does occur, a large amount of appropriate moisturising ointment should be applied to the irritated skin and the child or adult should be removed from the sun.
2. INSECT BITES
In summer clothing is lighter and our excursions increase so inevitably the number of bites of all kinds increases. For our precaution it is recommended to use special topical insect repellents but they are forbidden to infants < 6 months old. In this case, special stickers with insect repellent can be used and placed on the infants' clothes. In case of a reaction to a sting, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist for the use of topical ointments and appropriate treatment, as the bites of many insects have been implicated in the transmission of viral, bacterial infections and in causing serious diseases such as Nile fever.
3. AKMI
Children and adults who have a history of acne can have an outbreak during the summer, especially if they use too much and inappropriate sunscreen on their face. However, even heavy sweating can be enough for an acne flare-up. Good facial hygiene is recommended with proper soap, sunscreen for acneic skin and if you use make up ,better the light version of make up where it is labeled non-fastidious or oil free.
4. PHOTO ALERGIA
Many times children develop rashes that parents attribute to sunscreen. However, many times they can be due to some kind of allergy to the sun as well as to taking medications that children may be taking for a disease but which cause photosensitivity such as medications given for acne, so they need the advice of a dermatologist for appropriate treatment.
5. ATOPIC DERMATITIS DISORDER
Many children nowadays suffer from atopic dermatitis or allergies that can flare up during the summer months. It is recommended to take a shower immediately after the sea or the pool, use sunscreen suitable for his own skin, and bathe with lukewarm and not with
hot water. Lots of moisturizing with the right products after each bath and limited use of air conditioning which is very drying to the atmosphere and skin.
6. MELASMA
These are the brown spots, the so-called "spots" that many women develop during the summer, and which usually appear for the first time during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. It is necessary to be very careful with the sun and to use a suitable sunscreen with a high SPF 50 index as well as the advice of a dermatologist as it is a highly annoying aesthetic condition that needs both immediate treatment and prevention.
7. MANICURE AND PEDICURE ACRONYMS
Something that is particularly popular in our country in recent years and concerns the majority of women is the manicure and pedicure. Aesthetically they can be satisfying and improve our image, however we should limit heavy carving and cutting from the cuticles as they cause a lot of exposure to germs and infections that will require the use of antibiotics.
