What is it? Sunlight affects everyone in a different way. The skin’s ability to absorb ultraviolet light is what determines a person’s phototype. Knowing it could be very useful, not only to know how to sunbathe, but also to prevent many diseases. Thomas Bernard Fitzpatrick, an American dermatologist who developed the skin type scale in 1975, highlights 6 phototypes (from I to VI) that vary according to their characteristics, such as their colour and sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Phototype I – Skin: pale white skin, often with many freckles;– Hair: blonde or red;– Eyes: very light, green or blue;– Sensitivity to sunlight: very high. People with phototype I are advised to avoid sunbathing and to always use SPF50 sunscreen. Phototype II – Skin: fair, sometimes with freckles;– Hair: blonde or light brown;– Eyes: light, gray, blue or green;– Sensitivity to sunlight: high. People with phototype II are recommended to sunbathe as little as possible and to always apply SPF50 sunscreen. Phototype III – Skin: darker white skin, rarely with freckles;– Hair: blonde or brown;– Eyes: gray or brown;– Sensitivity to sunlight: average. People with phototype III have the ability to tan, but the skin can burn easily. They are recommended to use SPF30 sunscreen. Phototype IV – Skin: light brown skin;– Hair: dark;– Eyes: brown;– Sensitivity to sunlight: below average. People with phototype IV rarely get sunburned. They are recommended to use SPF20 or SPF30 sunscreen.. Phototype V – Skin: dark;– Hair: black;– Eyes: dark brown;– Sensitivity to sunlight: low. People with phototype V can hardly get sunburned. They are recommended to use SPF20 sunscreen. Phototype VI – Skin: very dark;– Hair: black;– Eyes: dark brown or black;– Sensitivity to sunlight: very low. People with phototype VI never burn in the sun. They are recommended to use SPF10 sunscreen. Phototypes and ultraviolet light Knowing your skin type, you can understand what is the safest way to sunbathe. For phototypes I and II, sunlight is especially dangerous. People with this type of skin take greater risks when sunbathing. People with phototype I with freckles should not sunbathe at all and should use SPF50 sunscreen on a regular basis. On the other hand, people with darker skin tone do not burn as easily, but this can give them a false sense of security. Everyone should use sun protection in certain situations and take certain precautions when out in the sun. There is a large number of phototypes, since not everyone can see themselves reflected 100% in the characteristics described above. Most people will have a mix of features from various skin types. In order to determine your exact skin type, it would be advisable to go to your dermatologist so that the doctor can examine you and run specific tests and advise you according to the specific characteristics of your skin type. However, it is enough to know your approximate skin type to be able to adopt the appropriate security measures. To do so, examine your skin tone in daylight on untanned areas of the body. Look at the color of the veins on your arms: if they appear somewhat greenish, then you have the warmer, darker skin tone; if they appear more blue, it is likely that your phototype is I or II.

With summer come the heat waves, and we risk becoming victims of heat exhaustion or of heatstroke. Are these two the same? Not quite: while a person can recover from heat exhaustion without requiring medical attention, heatstroke is a life-threatening condition, with an 80% mortality rate. This is because the body temperature rises above 40°C and the vital functions of various organs can begin to fail. Read on to learn the differences between heat exhaustion and heatstroke, how to identify them and deal with them. Heatstroke or heat exhaustion? Heatstroke can occur after having suffered heat exhaustion, if the symptoms do not subside after 30 minutes of treatment. Among the causes that can give rise to these diseases are prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures, especially if practicing sports or physical work in extreme heat. When body temperature remains elevated for a long time, excessive sweating causes the body to lose water and electrolytes, and blood volume to decrease. What are the symptoms? How to treat heat exhaustion? If you notice symptoms of heat exhaustion, you need to cool your body down. To do so, you can: – Go to a cool place, for example a room with an air conditioning;– Lie down and slightly elevate your legs;– Drink plenty of water or isotonic sports drinks;– Cool down your skin: with cold water, ice or wind (for example, with a fan). You can also apply cold compresses under your armpits or on your neck. In general, most people can recover from a mild heat exhaustion by cooling down in approximately 30 minutes. However, if symptoms persist after 30 minutes out of the sun or if the person starts showing symptoms of a heatstroke, this person may require urgent medical attention. In this case, you need to urgently call an ambulance, and while you wait for it to arrive, do everything possible to cool the person down: cold shower from the hose, a cold bath, covering the body with wet towels or ice, etc. How to prevent a heatstroke? Prevention is better than cure, so we suggest you keep the following recommendations in mind if you want to prevent high temperatures from negatively affecting you this summer. – Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty;– Do not go outside during the hottest hours of the day, close the curtains and switch on the air conditioning (an air conditioner is preferable because it cools the air, unlike a fan);– Do not do any physical exercise during heat hours;– Wear loose light-coloured clothes made of natural fabrics (for example, cotton or linen);– Cool the body down (for example, with a cold shower);– Do not leave children and/or animals inside a locked car.

Spain is a country with a very high UV index, so if you are not careful and do not apply sunscreen correctly, you risk getting sunburned. What is a sunburn and how to deal with it? If this summer you intend to go to the beach and sunbathe, this article may result useful to you. What is a sunburn? A sunburn occurs when the skin is exposed to the sun for a long time and receives too much ultraviolet light. Radiation damages skin cells and the immune system causes inflammation in these areas for the affected cells to die out. This results in peeling skin, which allows our body to get rid of dead skin cells. How to treat the affected areas? If you got sunburned, you need to cool the skin to reduce the inflammation. Shower first, and then apply a moisturiser to a clean, damp skin. In order for it to have more effect and provide more relief, you can put it in the fridge before you use it. The best option is a revitalising aloe vera cream (which you can find in any supermarket), as opposed to dense moisturisers or, for example, vaseline, because they would not allow the skin to breathe and cool down. You have to apply the cream regularly throughout the day and the following days, to hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation. In addition, these days you will have to take extra measures to protect the skin from sunlight. Other recommendations include: – Drink more water to stay hydrated;– If the sunburn hurts too much, take a painkiller such as ibuprofen or paracetamol;– Apply cold compresses on burned areas;– If the skin itches, you can take an antihistamine or apply a cream based on hydrocortisone (1%);– You should NOT try to remove the peeling skin;– You should NOT burst the blisters, if you have them, as they can get infected. When do I need medical assistance? Third degree burns require immediate medical attention. When more than 20% of the body is covered in blisters, for example your back or your entire leg, and when you have severe pain or a body temperature above 39°. You should also consult a doctor if a child under 1 year of age gets a sunburn, regardless of the degree.