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Suncreams and sunburn
I know the high factor commercial suncreams are supposed to protect us from burning, but I always seem to burn on holiday. I do try and stay out of the sun when it is at its most intense but I’d like to pack a good alternative remedy just in case.
Sunlight contains two types of burning rays, UVA and UVB. Both cause burning and tanning, but UVB was always thought to be the more harmful of the two since it burnt the skin more quickly.
We now learn that this is wrong and that UVA in fact penetrates more deeply to damage the collagen, which gives skin its elasticity. So, far from being harmless, UVA is the ray most closely linked with skin cancers and premature ageing.
The best way to avoid burning is to ration your exposure to the sun to a healthy 20 minutes a day and to keep out of the rays when they are at their most intense. That said, there are natural products which can help protect against burning from the inside out.
The new Microsphere Sun Skincare system, for example, combines concentrated carrot juice and Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (or OPCs) in capsule form to protect skin from burning. 60 capsules cost £9.99 from Revital (0800-252875). Take two a day and use with a natural suncream, such as Living Nature’s Wild Pansy and Coffee sunfilter which is made in New Zealand and is 100% organic or Eidelweiss Sun Lotion - a new herbal cream which comes in two SPF strengths. A 200ml bottle of 15 SPF costs £14.99. The same size bottle of 22 SPF costs £15.99.
If, however, you do overdo it, a soothing aloe vera gel will help and take the sting out of mild sunburn. To make your own cooling lotion by mixing 1/4 of a cup of good quality aloe vera juice in a spray bottle with 1 teaspoon of vitamin E and 10 drops of lavender oil. Alternatively, buy a ready-made gel from Holland & Barrett which costs £2.99 for 100ml, (mail order 0800-273273.) I also like a simple rose hip oil from Meadows of Canterbury. Sadly, it smells a bit like chipfat but it works.
Finally, I never leave home without a fantastic remedy called Citricidal in my travel kit. Made from grapefruit seed extract which has been shown to inactivate viruses, yeasts, fungi, parasites and worms, as well as bacteria, you can see why. Better still, and unlike conventional antibiotics, it destroys harmful bacteria without destroying the good ones in your gut, which aid with digestion.
You can use it for cuts, wounds, fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, cold sores - which are often triggered by the sun - and even as a toothbrush cleaner while you are away. Available from Higher Nature.
*If you do burn, do not apply anything to your skin until it has had a chance to start healing itself. Sunlight can penetrate up to 3ft of water so do not think you are safe when swimming. Note that prescription drugs, such as tetracyclines, increase the risk of burning and if you are using suncreams, remember to reapply them.