Publications
Partners
Celebrities and sportspeople spend hours in the sun at glamorous shoots and gruelling games. But they also spend years in the spotlight where they have to look their best.
That’s why, like all of us, they need a sun-safe plan. Cape Town dermatologist Dr Mohamed Docrat puts three local stars through their paces.
By Sylvie Hurford
Roxy Louw
model and pro surfer
Sun strategy My moisturiser has an SPF 15 and so does my foundation. When I’m on the beach I use a factor 30 sunscreen on my face. While surfing, my body is usually covered in a wetsuit but when I surf warmer spots I often don’t use sunblock because it makes me slip on my surfboard.
Survival tips I wear a hat, rehydrate with water and use an Elizabeth Arden SPF 15 lip balm that doesn’t rinse off and works wonders. To protect my hair and skin I use good old conditioner mixed with sunblock and lots of sunscreen, of course.
Skin sense My dad is a surfer too and he raced rubber ducks when I was growing up. Most of my time was spent roasting on the beach – even though my mom practically drenched me in sunscreen from when I was a baby.
But there’s been a huge movement towards greater sun awareness in my family and although I’ve never had a scan or mole map, I’ve been using sunscreen a lot more lately because of all the media scares.
Dr Docrat says While Roxy is aware, she falls terribly short by not using sunblock when she’s surfing without a wetsuit. Spray-on sunscreens work very well and will stop her from slipping on her board.
Also, mixing sunblock with conditioner will affect its efficacy and render it useless. Roxy’s daily sun protection should be upped to an SPF 30 and she needs to be much more aware of physical protection such as sunglasses and cover ups. “Roasting” on the beach as a child lowers her score significantly.
Roxy’s sun-safe score 5/10
We all scream for sun cream
“One of the misconceptions out there is that sunblock causes cancer,” says Dr Docrat. “This is not true. Sunblocks aren’t carcinogenic and are totally safe – in fact they’re the only way to ensure your safety in the sun.” dr Docrat says.
Find a sunscreen that you like and that suits your lifestyle and outdoor interests (ideally an SPF 30). Picking the product that’s right for you increases your likelihood of using it properly.
Dale Steyn
SA cricketer
Sun strategy I use a moisturiser with a SPF of 15 every day – usually one by Nivea or The Body Shop. But when I’m on the cricket field, I go for Johnson & Johnson for Babies SPF 40 on my face and neck and an SPF 30 spray on my arms.
I usually forget about the days when I’m out in the sun for recreational reasons – but I still wear the SPF 15 on my face.
Survival tips I wear a floppy hat and a long-sleeved shirt when fishing. Skin sense I only started using sun protection when I started spending more time on the cricket field.
Before that I didn’t really know about the damage but now that I’m more exposed to the sun, I’ve become aware of what can happen.
Dr Docrat says Dale doesn’t meet many sun-safety requirements. Given that he can spend up to 10 hours on the field at a time and as a bowler has to remove his hat and sunglasses, he’s at very high risk.
Once again a minimum of factor 30 must be used and reapplied regularly – especially when playing sport. Dale also needs to remember that recreational activities in the sun need to be given the same importance as time on the field.
In addition to bumping up his sun-safe regime, it’s essential that he protect his lips and eyes with SPF balms and sunglasses.
Dale’s sun-safe score 6/10
Vanessa Marawa
model and first winner
of Survivor South Africa
Sun strategy In winter I’m a bit of a sun-seeker but in summer I avoid the sun or shelter under a beach umbrella. I must confess I don’t use sunscreen on my body unless I’m spending an extended period in the sun.
But my face is a different story – my moisturiser contains an SPF 15 and I carry a can of spray-on SPF 30 for unexpected sunny moments. I’m very into gardening and am shiny as a button with the amount of sunscreen I slap on.
Survival tips During Survivor, we had to be in the sun for the challenges – and some of them took hours. That was rough but it was Survivor after all. I did wear a cap throughout the month, although covering my body was out of the question – it was memorably hot.
Skin sense My mom is a big sunscreen fan – even if I was going out for a few minutes she’d always ask, “Have you put on your sunscreen?” When I was growing up, I remember friends lying in the sun for ages to work on their tans.
Now we’re a lot more cautious. In my family, we also have a lot of hereditary moles. I have a few tiny ones on my face, but I’ve never been for a mole map. I’ve never had a scare, but I think I’ll go for a check-up soon.
Vanessa’s sun-safe score 7/10
Dr Docrat says Vanessa is the most sun-savvy of our three celebs. But she needs to take note that applying sunblock in an “emergency” is not good enough.
It needs to go on 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Also, a factor 30 is the minimum required, so a factor 15 moisturiser is not ideal. Her winter “sun seeking” has a slightly negative connotation, however, we live in a beautiful sunny country which we must enjoy safely.
Vanessa’s sun-safe score 7/10
Sunblock needs to be used consistently. Being darker skinned or darker from previous tanning or self-tan won’t protect you at all. You still need to apply – and reapply – sunscreen.
Once is enough Just one serious sunburn can cause enough damage for long-term problems, says Cape Town dermatologist Dr Dagmar Whitaker.
The Shadow Test
Stay out of the sun during peak hours. These have now been redefined as between 10:00 and 16:00. To assess your safety, go by the shadow rule. If your shadow is shorter than you are, it’s time to pack your beach bag and trek indoors.
Scary sun facts
- Dermatologist Dr Dagmar Whitaker also recommends never using anything with an SPF less than 30 under the South African sun. Why? Because we have one of the shortest “sun-safe” times.
- Bear in mind that UVA rays are not filtered by glass. So while you bask in the sunlight in the apparent safety of your car or behind your office window, you may not burn but you’re still getting dangerous UV exposure.
The SPF factor
What does the SPF value mean? Basically it allows you to stay in the sun for the number of minutes it would usually take you to burn, multiplied by the factor value.
Given that a fair skin can be burnt by UVB rays in a matter of minutes, a factor 30 multiplied by two minutes is equal to one hour in off-peak sunshine – not, as you may hope, a full day on your favourite beach.
Feel the burn
On average, 10 000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in South Africa every year, making it more common than all the other cancers combined. Here’s the low-down on keeping your family safe in the sun this summer
How the damage is done
The infamous UVB rays attack the outer layer of the skin and cause sunburn (remember: B is for burning). Their UVA counterparts penetrate the skin’s layers and cause damage that leads to wrinkles, discolouration and sagging (remember: A is for ageing). Together, these rays can ravage your skin.
Imagine your skin as a tent-like structure. Collagen and elastin fibres are the underlying support structures and if these supports are damaged and weakened over time through extended sun exposure, the whole “tent” begins to weaken and finally collapse, causing deep wrinkles.
In addition to the unpleasant appearance of sun-dried skin, UVA and UVB rays can also cause DNA mutations within skin cells that can lead to various forms of skin cancer. Not good news. That’s why it’s vital to use a sunblock with UVA and UVB protection.
The spectrum of sun damage
News flash: regardless of the natural colour of your skin, the sun can (and will) cause damage. Here’s how . . .
Fair skins Some people still think that darker skins are more immune to sun damage. Not true. In fact, sun worshippers with very fair skins are often chased out of the sun by the burning sensation caused by the browning of the pigment melanin in the dermis.So ironically a fair, sun-sensitive complexion can actually protect a sunbather from extended exposure and UV damage. That said, a pale skin can tolerate far less sun time safely.
Medium skins People with olive and darker skins, who don’t see or feel the effect of UVB rays immediately, often allow themselves to spend more time on sun loungers. As a result, they subject themselves to more UVA exposure that penetrates deeper into the dermis causing ageing and affecting the skin on a cellular level.
Dark skins Research has shown that more and more people with dark or black skins are being diagnosed with melanoma. The tricky thing is that early warning signs such as a misshapen mole or sun damage are often not evident on darker skin tones.
Plus, in dark-skinned people, melanoma seems to occur more frequently in unexposed areas – mostly the inside of the mouth, the nasal passages and between the toes. While it may be genetic and it’s not clear why these unexposed areas are affected, the problem is they’re often caught way too late. So don’t scrimp on sunscreen and keep an eye on your moles.
Find your exposure equilibrium
Safe and limited exposure to the sun has enormous benefits to all-round health. UVB sets off a chain reaction that helps the body produce vitamin D, which boosts bone health and prevents the development of osteoporosis. Sunshine also helps to reverse low mood and the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). But the key is to avoid over-cooking and to find a healthy balance.
This healthy balance depends entirely on your skin type which is defined by skin colour and response to the sun.
Pale skins Five minutes of sun time before 11:00 is a healthy maximum for type 1skins (always burn, never tan, often accompanied by pale complexions, red hair and freckles) and type 2 skins (burn easily, tan minimally, with fair skin and blue, green or grey eyes).
Dark skins On the other end of the scale type 5 (brown skin that rarely burns and tans profusely to dark) and type 6 skins (least sensitive, deeply pigmented, rarely burn) can probably handle up to 20 minutes of sun exposure.
The in-between types should keep their exposure within the end ranges. These times take into account the length of time needed to gain the benefits of vitamin D synthesis through sun exposure.
Start from scratch
Parents need to take responsibility for their children’s sun protection. But don’t leave it too late – start applying that sunblock from six months of age. Before that babies shouldn’t be exposed to the sun at all.
Monitor those moles
Certain moles need to be followed up on a regular basis, “such as the irregular ones that look a little like fried eggs,” says dermatologist Dr Mohamed Docrat.
“These ‘dysplastic’ moles are high-risk and should be monitored through mole mapping, a computerbased screening process.”
Also, make sure you get screened and scanned
on a regular basis if you have:
- More than 50 moles in total;
- Five or more large, irregular moles;
- Any first-degree relatives who’ve had melanoma.
Contrary to popular belief, in most cases the bigger and more noticeable moles, such as the ones that stick out above the surface of the skin, are less likely to be dangerous.
“Moles that are the best melanoma indicators are the small, flat, dark ones,” says Cape Town dermatologist Dr Rowena McKenzie, “and knowing this is one of your greatest weapons against melanoma.”
These moles sit flush against the skin and look like very dark freckles. Although this appearance isn’t dangerous, a change in appearance might be.The message: be vigilant. Go for mole mapping with your dermatologist and check your moles regularly.
If possible, measure the little flat dark ones annually to check for any changes in size. If the outer edges of a mole become irregular or if it changes shape or appearance in any way, consult your doctor.
Sun damage
Damage caused by UV radiation isn’t always visible to the naked eye, but with a UV camera lens it quickly becomes apparent.
