We identify summer with the sun and abundant light, which works so beneficially for our soul and body. It is no coincidence that the ancient Greeks had at the center of their religion the Sun God, a handsome, young man with a halo, who daily drives his chariot into the sky, giving light, warmth and optimism to mortals!
The benefits of the sun on the body, therefore, had been understood since ancient times. Especially for skin which is the largest organ of the body, which wraps us protectively and comes into direct contact with the sun.
At this time, due to UV radiation, there are skin conditions that improve and others that worsen with sun exposure.
How the sun affects skin diseases
"For example, the acne -from which many young people suffer and not only- it gets better, since the ultraviolet radiation removes the inflammatory cells and the person's external appearance improves, therefore also his mood", he says, speaking to Greek News and Radio FL, The Konstantinos Mileounis Director Dermatologist-Venoretologist at Metropolitan Hospital.
"The psoriasis, a disease from which hundreds of thousands of people suffer, is characterized by a very rapid proliferation of skin cells, which, instead of reaching keratin in a month, reach it in two or three days, do not exfoliate and create the characteristic plaque with the scale.
A treatment option for psoriasis is phototherapy, where the sufferer enters a special cabin, wears special glasses and receives the beneficial effect of ultraviolet radiation. In fact, instead of going to units providing specific health services, he can go to the beach and do treatment while having fun.
Exposure, however, must be gradual and careful to avoid burns, while the use of sunscreen is certainly recommended, especially on the face."
Which diseases worsen during the summer season?
"The best known is the wolf, an auto-immune disease, which can worsen in the summer and therefore requires caution in sun exposure.
Also, special attention needed for the people receiving it anticancer therapy, either chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In both types of treatments there are drugs that when someone takes them is photosensitized, reddened and itchy. So those doing anti-cancer treatment should prefer shady places, wearing a long shirt and sunscreen.
Still, the people who have poplar they need to show special care in the summer, since the unmelanated areas are unprotected and burn easily. In contrast, healthy areas tan easily, color contrast increases, and the color camouflage we often do does not mean it also provides sun protection. So, someone suffering from vitiligo must take special care in the sun," informs the expert.
Ticks and possible complications from their bites
Tick bites are a common problem in summer. These are small pests, which in the summer have increased mobility. At the same time, we wear lighter clothes, so there is easy access to our skin.
"Very often, when we see an insect on our skin, we chase it away with a hasty movement. If this happens to be a tick we can drive it away, but it's firmly attached head usually remains inside the skin and causes a reaction. A pimple or an annoying, itchy papule is created that can bother us for months. In this case, surgical removal must be done. If we had understood from the beginning that it was a tick, we could either use very fine tweezers to remove the head, or with a small blade to uproot the head, maybe even a little part of our skin.
Another problem created by tick bites are communicable diseases and specifically for our country Lyme disease. So, a month after the sting we have to do Borelia Burgdorferi antibody test and if it is positive, we will need to take antibiotics to treat the microbe" explains Mr. Mileounis.
Vitamin D deficiency in a sunny country
The source of vitamin D production is ultraviolet radiation, to which our skin is exposed and the intake of foods that contain it.
"In Greece, we rely mainly on the sun for the production of vitamin D and usually, we omit its intake from the diet. In terms of food, vitamin D is mainly found in fatty fish such as herring, sardines, mackerel and salmon. Of course, if we are deficient in vitamin D, we will take a nutritional supplement and try to improve our diet. More generally, gradual and careful exposure to the sun is needed, combined with a proper diet," concludes Mr. Mileounis.
photo LeQuocHuy36, https://pixabay.com
