Advice to prevent sunburn

Contents

1 How to avoid sunburns

How to avoid sunburns

The best way to avoid sunburn is to take appropriate preventive measures before they occur. Among them we can mention:

Use a proper solar filter

Sunscreens with a minimum factor of 15, should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. They must be re-applied every two hours or every hour and a half after being in the water. You must also re-apply them after rubbing with a towel or after sweating a lot.

Apply sunscreen on all exposed parts of skin, including those which may be below the water as sun rays pass through it easily. It should be noted that sunscreens do not protect 100% of ultraviolet rays and the only complete protection against the sun’s harmful effects is to avoid full exposure. (See information on this subject in the listing above)

– Do not expose yourself to the sun too long, especially during the early days, when the skin is not accustomed.

The first exposure should not exceed 15 minutes, regardless of skin type. Expose yourself gradually increasing time exposition a little bit each day.

Take special protection when going to the mountains

As we go up from sea level, solar radiation increases, so we must take into account that sun exposure in elevated places is more dangerous than near the sea. Mountaineers, excursionists o any person climbing or staying in high places must take the suitable measures.

Don’t forget that snow reflects sun rays more than grass or ground. Special protections for the bare skin or eyes must be done for people walking on the snow, skiing or practicing any activity on this white surface.

Other protection measures

– Especial protection must be considered when taking certain medications, especially those containing hormones – acne medications, pill against pregnancy -, antibiotics, medicines for hypertension or diabetes, etc., can sensitize the skin making this more easily react against solar radiation.

– Young children up to 6 months should not be exposed to sunlight. Their skin does not have adequate protection to defend them against the sun’s rays.

– It is not convenient to take the sun in the peak sunny hours, that’s to say, between 10 am and 4 or 5 pm

– We recommend the use of caps or wide-brimmed hats and wear a shirt when we are near water, which reflects up to 25% of ultraviolet rays. This is advisable especially for people very sensitive to light or those people whose skin easily reacts to sunlight.

– We need protection from the sun even on cloudy days because the sun’s rays go through the clouds.

Herbal remedies that increase photosensibility

People must be cautious exposing to the sun when taking certain herbal remedies, such as St. John’s wort.

They produce photosensitization and therefore may be responsible for the appearance of brown spots, redness and even sunburns.

Other plants contain principles that can attain the main results when applied on the skin. (More information about photosensibility)

Among other herbs which can potentially cause photosensibility we have the following:

Main phototoxic plant list
Species	Phototoxic component	Phototoxic parts	Possible phototoxic cause
*Ammi majus* ( Bishop’s Weed)	Angelicin Bergapten Pimpellinin Furocoumarin Methoxy-Psoralen	Seeds	Internal use seeds
*Anethum graveolens* (Dill)	Bergapten	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Angelica archangelica* (Angelica)	Angelicin Bergapten Pimpellinin Psoralen Sphondin	Seeds, plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Angelica dahurica* (Bai Zhi)	Psoralen	Root, plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Apium graveolens* (Celery)	Angelicin Bergapten Methoxy-Psoralen Psoralen	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Banisteriopsis caapi* (Ayahuasca)	Harmaline	Semillas	Seeds preparation for ayahuasca
*Casimiroa edulis* (White sapote)	Bergapten Dictamnine Skimmianine	Bark	Contact with the plant
*Cinchona spp* (Quinina)	Quinine	Bark	Decoctions of rhyzome, contact with the bark
*Citrus aurantiifolia* (Lime)	Bergapten	Fruit	Fruit contact or eating
*Citrus aurantium* (Bitter orange)	Bergapten	Fruit	Fruit contact or eating
*Citrus limon* (Lemon)	Bergapten	Essential oil	Essential oil on the skin
Coriandrum sativum (Coriander)	Psoralen Angelicin Bergapten	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Curcuma longa* (Indian Saffron)	Curcumin	Rhyzome	Capsules of curcumin
Curcuma xanthorrhiza (Javan Turmeric)	Curcumin	Rhyzome	Capsules of curcumin
*Curcuma zedoaria* (Shoti)	Curcumin	Rhyzome	Capsules of curcumin
*Dictamnus albus* (Burning Bush)	Bergapten Psoralen Dictamnine Skimmianine	Root	Root decoctions
Ficus carica (Fig tree)	Psoralen Bergapten Angelicin	Plant	Contact of the juice on the skin
*Foeniculum vulgare* (Fennel)	Bergapten Psoralen Methoxy-Psoralen	Fruit	Essential oil on the skin
*Glehnia littoralis* (Bei Sha Shen)	Bergapten Psoralen	Rhyzome	Decoctions of rhyzome
*Glycyrrhiza glabra* (Licorice)	Bergapten	Ramas	Eating or chewing licorice
*Heracleum laciniatum* (Laciniate)	Angelicin Bergapten Pimpellinin Sphondin	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Hydrastis canadensis* (Goldenseal)	Berberastine Berberine	Rhyzome	Capsules or decoctions of rhyzome
Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort)	Hypericin	Plant	Essential oil on the skin. Internal preparations of the plant
*Levisticum officinale* (Lovage)	Bergapten Psoralen Methoxy-Psoralen	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Limonia acidissima* (Elephant Apple)	Psoralen Bergapten	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Passiflora incarnata* (Mayapple)	Harmaline	Plant	Contact with the plant
*Peganum harmala* (Harmala)	Harmaline	Semillas	Seeds preparation for ayahuasca or other
*Petroselinum crispum* (Parsley)	Bergapten Psoralen Methoxy-Psoralen	Plant, seed	Fresh plant or essential on the skin
*Pimpinella anisum* (Anise)	Bergapten,	Plant, seed	Fresh plant or essential on the skin
*Ruta graveolens* (Rue)	Bergapten Psoralen Dictamnine Skimmianine	Plant	Fresh plant on the skin
*Skimmia arborescens* (Skimmia)	Bergapten Skimmianine	Leaves	Contact with the plant
*Skimmia japonica* (Japanese Skimmia)	Dictamnine Skimmianine	Leaves	Contact with the plant
*Zanthoxylum alatum* (Indian Prickly Ash)	Berberine Dictamnine Skimmianine	Bark	Contact with the plant
*Zanthoxylum americanum* (Northern Prickly Ash)	Berberine Dictamnine Skimmianine	Bark	Contact with the plant
*Zanthoxylum clava-herculis* (Hercules’ club)	Berberine	Bark	Contact with the plant
*Zingiber officinale* (Ginger)	Curcumin	Rhizome	Capsules or decoctions of Rhizome