Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050224
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TRACIE FELLERS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
You don't even have to ponder over how you're going to pass the time. You know you want to spend as much of it as possible outdoors.
So you throw on your shorts or sun dress and dutifully apply your sunscreen. And whether you're road-tripping to the beach or just traipsing about town, you're ready to take anything Mr. Sun can dish out. Right?
Wrong.
You'd be better prepared to do battle with the sun if you have sunglasses, said Roanoke dermatologist Dr. James E. Comer. But not just any sunglasses. "You do want to get some that block out ultraviolet radiation, not just the light," he said.
Today, manufacturers "are making better sunglasses that block out the ultraviolet rays - unlike before, when they were just colored glass," he added.
The right sunglasses can do a lot more than just cover your eyes. Those that block out ultraviolet rays also can reduce your chances of developing cataracts.
"There's a connection between cataracts and sun exposure," Comer said. It usually takes a long time for cataracts to develop, but with enough exposure to the sun's harmful rays, it's more likely that they will.
And the sunglasses don't have to be expensive to do the job. "The price of it doesn't necessarily make it good. You have to read the labels on your glasses," Comer said.
A pricey pair of sunglasses may not block ultraviolet rays, while an inexpensive pair might, he said. Sunglasses that protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays have labels indicating that fact.
However, expensive sunglasses that do provide protection from ultraviolet light might be the best bet for someone who spends a lot of time looking into the sun, Comer said. "If you're going to play golf or be an airline pilot, it would probably be worth it, because they block out other kinds of light."
Umbrellas and cabanas also can provide an extra measure of protection against the sun, Comer said.
The Coleman Company, which manufactures camping and outdoor products, features two cabanas in its 1990 catalog. The cabanas are free-standing shelters that set up like a tent and are available in bright pink and blue. The Fiesta Cabana 2 has room enough for three adults, and the Fiesta Cabana 1 accommodates two.
Both cabanas can be ordered through Coleman's customer service line (800-835-3278) at $25.68 for the two-person cabana, $41.08 for the larger one. A $5 shipping charge is added to each order.
A beach and picnic shelter similar to Coleman's cabanas can be ordered from L.L. Bean's summer catalog for $59.95, shipping included (800-221-4221).
Using a shelter like Coleman's three-person cabana would block out as much as 75 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays, Comer said. And even beach umbrellas are better than nothing at all. An umbrella in a sturdy, heavy material like canvas would block out about 50 percent of harmful rays, he added.
But "it makes a difference whether you're sitting on a white beach or a green lawn." On the beach, you might get more than 50 percent of the harmful rays because of the reflections off the sand and water.
Because of that reflection, someone sitting under an umbrella or in a cabana at the beach still would need to use a good sunscreen, Comer said. He recommends applying sunscreens right before you go outdoors. And "if you're sweating or being very active . . . you'd want to reapply it more often."
Whether you're combing the beach or just puttering in the backyard, you also should remember to protect sensitive areas that are often forgotten - such as the lips, ears, nose, neck and feet.
For those who get sunburned this summer, Comer offered a few suggestions. For less-serious burns "you can often relieve the burning with ice milk compresses," he said. Mix one part milk with one part cold water, add ice cubes, and apply the mixture to the burned area with a soft cloth every couple of hours.
The compresses, which diminish redness and pain, should be applied immediately after you've been burned, not the next day, Comer said.
Aspirin and antihistamines also can ease some of the discomfort of a burn. "Aspirin is very good to relieve the burning, and it's also like a poor man's cortisone. It helps to reduce the inflammation.
"Obviously, if you're burned to the point where you have ulcerations - that's if the skin is actually open - you should get some kind of burn cream." A good over-the-counter antibiotic is polysporia, Comer said. If the burn is really bad, the sunburn victim should see a doctor, he added.
by CNB