Interviewed expert: Wei Zhengzheng, associate researcher of the Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Chen Xiang, Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Global Times health client reporter Zhang Mian
Although there is still half a month before the beginning of summer, many places across the country can't wait to enter the "experience version of early summer". The area with the highest temperature of "30°C+" on April 17 was further expanded, reaching 32.4°C in Chengdu, 33.3°C in Hefei, 33.8°C in Wuhan, 34°C in Nanjing, 35.1°C in Hangzhou, 35.7°C in Chongqing... Temperatures have reached new highs this year. Wei Zhengzheng, associate researcher of the Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said in an interview with the "Global Times Health Client" reporter that global climate change has brought great challenges to human survival, and there may be more extreme high temperatures in the future. According to the National Climate Center of the China Meteorological Administration, this summer, except for the central and northern Heilongjiang temperatures slightly lower than the same period of previous years, the temperature in most parts of the country will be close to the same period of the year to high levels. Among them, southern Henan, western Anhui, northwestern Jiangxi, northern Hunan, Hubei, most of Chongqing, eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, western Gansu, most of Xinjiang and other places are 1~2 °C higher, and the number of high temperature (daily maximum temperature greater than or equal to 35 °C) days is more than the same period of the year, and there may be staged high temperature heat waves.
The high temperature is coming, and ultraviolet rays are also taking advantage of the momentum, reminding everyone that sun protection needs to be put on the agenda. Recently, the Chinese Medical Association and the Dermatology and Venereology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association jointly issued the Guidelines for the Primary Diagnosis and Treatment of Sunburn (2023) (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines), providing a set of all-round guidance for sun protection this summer.
Chen Xiang, an expert in the preparation of the "Consensus" and chief physician of the Department of Dermatology of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, said: "From the perspective of meteorological forecasts, the mainland may face more and more intense high temperature weather in the next summer, and the current heat is only a high temperature preview of this summer. But ultraviolet rays are not unique to summer sunlight, it exists every day, generally from March every year the intensity gradually increases, March ~ April ultraviolet rays have reached 90% of the midsummer, May ~ August is the peak of the annual ultraviolet amount. Therefore, in late spring and early summer, sun protection should be put on the agenda to avoid tanning and sunburn. ”
Ultraviolet penetration is extremely strong, men and women of all ages must do a good job of sun protection, otherwise it is easy to cause sun damage. The so-called sunburn, refers to the acute phototoxic reaction of the skin caused by excessive ultraviolet radiation of the skin, manifested as erythema, swelling, blisters, desquamation and pigmentation, accompanied by pain, itching and other symptoms, more likely to occur in late spring and early summer, when the temperature rises, the human body is easy to sweat, will increase the hydration of the stratum corneum of the skin, so that the stratum corneum is easy to absorb shorter wavelength ultraviolet rays, and lead to a decrease in ultraviolet reflection and scattering, increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet rays, and then cause sunburn.
The most vulnerable parts of the body to sunburn are the chest and back, limbs, face and neck, and back of the hands and feet, which can be divided into two levels according to the degree of sunburn. Once sunburned, reddish, bright red, or dark red macules appear on the skin that are visible to the naked eye and clearly circumscribed; Second-degree sunburn, which is a more serious sunburn, in addition to redness and swelling symptoms, skin blisters, bullae, accompanied by severe burning pain. Patients with severe sunburn can also have systemic symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and even heat stroke and shock. To prevent burns from ultraviolet rays, Chen recommends following 5 principles.
1. Hide from the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and choose a cool place when outdoors. If there is no shade, try to avoid outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Infants younger than 6 months should be as comfortable as possible in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
2. Wear long clothes and a large-brimmed hat. When you need to exercise outdoors for a long time, it is recommended to use a wide-brimmed hat and a long-sleeved shirt to protect and cover the body. The higher the density, darker the color or the addition of a sunscreen coating, the stronger its UV absorption capacity and the better the sun protection effect. The length of the brim of the hat is greater than 7.5 cm, which has a better sun protection effect.
3. Sunscreen + clothes and hats, the effect is doubled. Combining topical sunscreen with physical sun protection, such as wearing long coats and hats, works better. It is recommended to choose a waterproof sunscreen with SPF 30 or above, and apply evenly to the face, neck, shoulders and other sunburn-prone areas. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours or after sweating and swimming. Be careful not to give children sunscreens containing vitamin A, oxybenzone, fragrances, parabens and other preservatives to avoid irritating dermatitis.
4. Go back to the house when your skin "hurts". When the skin begins to feel burning or tingling, immediately avoid the sun and return to a room or cool place.
5. Take certain medications to avoid light. People who are taking photosensitive drugs (doxycycline, sulfonamides, griseofulvin, amiodarone, tetracycline antimicrobials, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or people with light-sensitive conditions such as connective tissue disease, should avoid sun exposure as directed by their doctor.
Once sunburned, the affected area should be applied immediately with normal saline, boric acid solution, or 2.5% indomethacin solution. Then, topical glucocorticoid ointment relieves erythema and local skin congestion, inhibits post-sun pigmentation, and relieves local skin pain. If skin bullae form, the blister wall should be kept intact and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible to avoid infection. ▲
Responsible editor: Zhao Ziying
Editor-in-chief: Ding Wenjun