The summer holidays are now and happening and whether staying at home, or travelling abroad, professional advice from totalhealth pharmacies can make things easier.
A spell of nice weather is always welcome, but it is necessary to be sensible and careful in the sun. Sunlight in the correct amount is good for health and aids the body in the production of vitamin D. Too much exposure, however, is harmful and can damage the skin, increasing the chance of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland.
Totalhealth Pharmacies can advise on the best protection from the sun’s harmful rays and about using the correct high factor sun creams.
Sun Protection: Seek shade or stay indoors as much as possible between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest. Children under six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Cover up the body as much as possible when out in the sunshine.
Wear wide-brimmed hats with a brim that goes all around the hat to protect the face and neck. Young children should wear hats with neck protectors too.
Choose clothes that cover as much skin as possible (eg, wear a shirt with a collar, three-quarter length sleeves and three-quarter length trousers ). The material should be tightly woven to block out sunlight.
Wear wraparound sunglasses with UV filters to prevent damage to the eyes by UV radiation.
Use high-factor sunscreen liberally.
Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF ) 15 or higher (SPF 30 or higher for children ) and a high level of UVA protection.
UVA protection is marked by a star system from 1 to 5. Use sun creams with a 4 or 5 star rating.
Apply a generous amount of sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply at least every two hours and after swimming, even for water resistant sun creams. Once opened many sun creams should be used within 12 months to ensure efficacy.
totalhealth Pharmacy is a network comprising more than 60 of Ireland’s independently owned, local retail pharmacies. In County Galway alone, there are nine totalhealth Pharmacies, Brogan’s totalhealth Pharmacy, Loughrea; Feely’s totalhealth Pharmacy, Tuam; Flanagan’s totalhealth Pharmacies- Athenry, Galway and Headford; Hayes & Hayes totalhealth Pharmacy, Portumna; Moran’s totalhealth Pharmacy, Clifden; Murphy’s totalhealth Medical Hall, Ballinasloe; and Pat Hogan totalhealth Pharmacy, Galway city. Visit, www.totalhealth.ie
