After years of pandemic restrictions, the Philippines has begun to reopen its tourism industry.¹ Popular spots like Batangas, Boracay, and Bohol have welcomed domestic tourists from areas that are under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ. Other places like Camarines Sur, La Union and Palawan have opened their doors to residents and visitors from neighboring areas.

The Philippines is consistently recognized as Asia’s leading beach destination,² and hiking is rapidly growing in popularity.³ While both can benefit our minds and bodies,^4,5 these may also expose holiday goers to excessive sunlight. Unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause injuries and damage to our skin and lead to skin cancer or premature skin aging.⁶ It’s therefore important to limit sun exposure and protect against sun damage. Wearing protective clothing, seeking shade when appropriate and using a sunscreen are effective in skin protection.⁶

Sunscreen contains active ingredients that protect our skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.⁷ Two types are available in the market: physical sunscreens block and scatter UV rays before these penetrate the skin, while chemical sunscreens absorb these before they can damage the skin. Both are safe and effective, although physical sunscreens are less likely to cause skin irritation.⁷

Sunscreens have varying sun protection factors (SPF). It shows how much protection the sunscreen provides against sunburn.⁸ The higher the SPF value (up to 50), the greater its sunburn protection. Sunscreens with SPF 15 provide the minimum level required to prevent skin cancer development,⁹ but if you have fair skin, you may want to use one with a value of 30 to 50.⁸ The popular belief that the SPF is related to the time of solar exposure, e.g., an SPF 15 sunscreen allows people to stay in the sun for 15 hours without getting sunburn, is incorrect.⁸

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside to allow it to bind to your skin and provide maximum benefit.^7,8 It should then be reapplied at least every two hours of exposure^7,9 and immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.⁷ About one ounce, or one shot glass full, should be used to the entire body before dressing up, but at the very least, it should be smeared to the parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, including the top of the ear, the back of the neck, the scalp (on the part line), top of the feet and behind the knees.⁷

The Philippine Dermatological Society advises three things to look for when buying sunscreen⁹:

• Broad spectrum. The sunscreen must provide protection against UV-A, which is associated with fine wrinkles, discoloration, and poor skin tone; and UV-B, which is associated with sunburn.
• Sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or more. The higher the SPF, the better the level of protection, although sunscreens with SPF higher than 50 aren’t proven to provide greater benefits than those that have SPF 50.
• Water resistant. This provides the length of time that the sunscreen will last while swimming or sweating.

Having fun in the sun shouldn’t make us worry about injuries caused by solar radiation. With a sunscreen, we can enjoy the outdoors without paying for it with a sunburn afterwards. Of course, all these should be done while maintaining awareness of the ongoing pandemic and taking every necessary precaution.

Originally published in HealthToday Issue 1 2021

References:
References: 1. Guide to the Philippines. Philippines travel: COVID-19 information + destinations open for tourism. Guide to the Philippines resource page. Available at: https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/philippines-travel-covid-19. Accessed 28 December 2020. 2. Department of Tourism (DOT). The Philippines and DOT receive accolades at the 2020 World Travel Awards Asia Winners Day. DOT resource page. Available at: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/news_features/2020WorldTravelAwar