What diseases can cause the sun
Light and heat are priceless gifts of the sun, the source of all life. Even a special treatment exists, heliotherapy is called.But all that is useful has reasonable limits, and the sun, as a medicine, must be used in doses. Some sunbathing and completely dangerous. Who can not sunbathe? What diseases the heavenly body can cause, how to avoid them - find out more from our article.
About the benefits of sunlight
Warm gentle rays strengthen our immunity, help the body to resist all ailments, increase vitality, improve metabolism. The sun is also a great antidepressant.
And an indispensable vitamin D in the body? It is produced under the influence of the luminary, it is necessary for a full-fledged calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin is responsible for strengthening our muscles, makes strong bone and tooth enamel, affects blood circulation (normalizes blood pressure), fights fatigue.
More advantages of sun exposure:
- reduces cholesterol;
- treats skin diseases (acne, eczema, psoriasis);
- promotes the synthesis of protein, hormones, enzymes;
- kills viruses and bacteria;
- hardens the body;
- helps in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- gives a beautiful tan!
So, then, we are going to sunbathe together? Advantage of not pressing under the gentle rays, actively treat their diseases? But not so simple.
To the sun is not a friend
There are many who should fear the open sun. The list of contraindications is not small. Perhaps you did not expect that some diseases will deprive you of the opportunity to sunbathe in plenty.
Sunbathing is not recommended for:
- oncological diseases;
- benign neoplasms;
- hypertension II and III degrees;
- endocrine diseases (adrenal glands, thyroid gland);
- pregnancy (sunbathing only in the shade!);
- a number of women's problems (polyps and erosion of the cervix, fibroids, ovarian cystoma, polycystic ovaries, mastopathy);
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- insulin-dependent diabetes;
- predisposition to melanoma;
- neuropsychiatric diseases.
The sun provokes the aggravation of these diseases, causes a deterioration of health, in some cases (oncology, lupus, tuberculosis) there is a great risk of further development of diseases with serious consequences.
Do not sunbathe for children under 3 years. The little ones have enough sunbathing in the shade so far, there the exposure to the sun's rays is quite gentle.
Light-skinned owners of light skin that does not produce melanin often behave like blondes and redheads. Bronze tanning they will never reach, but burn and get a bad disease - easily. Melanoma, for example, occurs 10 times more often in them, especially in dark-skinned people.
It turns out that many drugs increase the risk of burning, they make the skin hypersensitive. These include:
- antifungal drugs;
- diabetes medications;
- antihypertensives (reducing pressure);
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- cosmetics containing phenol, mercury, boric acid, retinoids;
- essential oils.
There may be reactions in the form of pigmentation, itching, redness, rash, blisters, possibly the aggravation of herpes, acne, psoriasis.While taking these drugs, avoid long in the sun.
What else should be feared, being under warm rays?
Perhaps the most frequent consequence that a person faces while in the sun.
It's amazing how cruel we sometimes are to our skin, trying to get her to change her color from pale to bronze in a couple of days.
Active ultraviolet radiation burns the upper layer of the skin, from which appears at first a feeling of tightness, redness, blisters. Touching the affected area is painful, the person is shivering, the body temperature rises.
There are also stronger manifestations - a drop in blood pressure, weakness, loss of orientation in space.
Help with sunburn
Feeling that your skin is giving an SOS signal, hide from direct sunlight. Better in the room, if there is no such possibility, wear clothes that at the minimum transmit UV light. You can cover yourself with a towel soaked in cold water.
It cools the skin and relieves the sensation of pain from a cool shower or bath. But try not to damage and so the affected integuments with a strong jet of water.
In case of weak burns, folk remedies do well: kefir, sour cream, sour milk, aloe juice, lotion from cucumber and watermelon juice, grated raw potatoes, chamomile, calendula or St. John's wort decoctions.
Of the drugs in the treatment of sunburn, panthenol and solcoseryl have proven themselves well.
To suffer pain from a burn is hardly appropriate. It is better to take paracetamol, tempalgin, ibuprofen, aspirin. Edema will remove antihistamines (diazolin, claritin).
In no case alcohol-containing means, fat creams should not be applied to the burned skin. This will only increase the extent of the damage.
It is necessary to be afraid, being too long in the active sun without a headdress. Under the strong rays of the sun, blood vessels dilate, blood rushes to the head, and then - the consequences are extremely unpleasant.
A person feels a sharp weakness, headache, pupils dilate, darkens in the eyes (possibly bleeding from the nose). The pulse quickens, the temperature rises (even up to 40 degrees), seizures, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness are possible.
Young children, older people, those who suffer from hypertension, ischemia, excess weight, are more at risk of getting sunstrokeand also alcohol abusers.
Help the doctor in such cases is required!
Usually for the treatment of sunstroke will require several days of bed rest, the necessary procedures will register the doctor. And preventive measures are:
- if possible, try not to be in the sun at the peak of its activity;
- wear a hat, use an umbrella;
- choose clothes from natural breathable fabrics of light colors;
- drink plenty of fluids (at least 2 liters) - water, kvass, fruit drink, tea;
- do not overeat, refrain from alcohol;
- do not sunbathe between 11 and 16 o'clock.
Simply put, it is an allergy to the sun. The cause of the disease - increased skin sensitivity to the sun. And this is not at all a rarity, about 20% of people in the world know about it firsthand.
Sunlight itself does not cause allergies. It simply provokes the accumulation of allergens in the body. Ultraviolet rays interact with substances on the skin (talking about exogenous photodermatosis) or contained in the skin (endogenous photodermatitis).
If a person has excellent health (a rarity, of course!), He does not have any allergy to the sun. But endocrine disorders, avitaminosis, kidney and liver diseases should alert you.Sun allergies can also occur in pregnant women.
Photodermatosis manifests extremely unpleasant symptoms:
- redness, inflammation, peeling of the skin;
- severe itching, burning;
- skin rash;
- swelling of mucous membranes.
A few hours after being in the sun, these symptoms begin to manifest, there is a slower reaction: from 18 to 72 hours. Particularly sensitive people may face such problems: bronchospasm, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness.
Who is more worth fear of the risk of allergies to the sun? There are many of them: fair-skinned people, pregnant women, dermatitis sufferers, relatives who are prone to sun allergy, lovers of tanning beds, tattooing, chemical peeling.
Prevention of photodermatosis
Active sun (from 11 to 16 hours) is contraindicated to you.
Take a sun bath in the saving shade of a tree, umbrella or awning.
Protect your skin from direct rays - be sure to wear a hat, and clothing should be light and light, from natural fabrics, with long sleeves.
Sunscreens choose known, proven brands with a high degree of photoprotection. Apply them on the skin every two hours.The cream must contain protection against UVB rays and UVA rays (which provoke photodermatosis).
Do not use deodorants, perfumes, aromatic oils.
Best of all, knowing your predisposition to sun allergies, consult with your doctor. It will help assess the risks, give you individual recommendations and help to establish the right relationship with the heavenly body. After all, whatever one may say, but there is no life without the sun. Observing precautions, you can take sun baths too.
What other diseases should be afraid, being long in the sun?
Skin cancer risk
Excessive UV rays and sunburn can cause different types of skin cancer. According to statistics, 50–90% of these diseases are the result of the harmful effects of the sun.
In recent years, cases of melanoma, a very aggressive and life-threatening cancer, have become more frequent. Melanoma is one of the most dangerous tumors. If you count all cases of death from various types of skin cancer, then melanoma accounts for 80%.
But this malignant neoplasm is easier to prevent, its primary manifestations can be seen visually: changes in the shape and color of moles, the appearance of scaly patches, any neoplasms.
Watch your skin carefully, follow the rules of safe exposure to the sun and then reduce the risk of getting melanoma to a minimum.
Who should take special care:
- those who have freckles;
- having light skin;
- spending a lot of time in the fresh air;
- received severe sunburn in childhood;
- people in whose lineage there have been cases of skin cancer.
Danger of eye diseases
Being in the sun, you should beware of dry eye syndrome. Our "soul mirrors" start to hurt, dryness, burning, fatigue is felt. And yet - a foreign body sensation. In addition to discomfort, there is the threat of reduced vision.
UV rays can cause cataracts - clouding of the lens, threatening a person with blindness. If you have flies before your eyes, objects are double or appear yellow - urgently to the ophthalmologist.
One should also beware of photokeratitis - a severe sunburn that damages the cornea of the eye. You can earn it in just 20 minutes of being in the sun. And not only from direct sunlight, but also from reflected - from water, snow, the surface of the earth.
Ultraviolet can cause conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva. It is also accompanied by pain and a negative effect on our vision.
Photokeratitis and conjunctivitis can be prevented by using sunglasses with a high degree of protection against UV-A and UV-B rays of at least 400 units. A wide-brimmed hat will partially protect your eyes.
But in order to maximize the effect, some experts advise wearing lenses with an ultraviolet filter.
All excesses are fraught with negative consequences. Similarly, the skin suffers from immoderate exposure to the sun — its upper layer is damaged, and changes occur, which are characteristic of the old age.
Quite young women have dry skin, thinning, wrinkles, vascular changes, redness. Freckles appear, various spots (chloasma, lentigo).
Everything is getting old, but why speed up this process by 10-15 years with your own hands? Take care of your skin, use special sunscreen (better have a protection factor (SPF) of 30+ or more).
Let's use the healing power of the sun intelligently. Sunburn is not an end in itself, more important is the use of sunlight for the whole body.Experts say - several times a week to spend 15 minutes in the sun without using a protective cream - an excellent means of health promotion. Use the life-giving force of our luminary for your own good.