In America we recognize UVA and UVB rays from the sun. In Australia they speak of UVC rays too. Who knows, there may be many other spectrums of light that are not yet identified. There has been a scandal because for years companies in America were allowed to make misleading claims about their sunblocks having full spectrum protection when they did not. Paula Begoun has written extensively about this. Her books, newsletter, and website are a good source of information about this. It turns out that some sunblocks just allowed you to spend more time outside without burning, which allowed the unblocked rays to do more damage. Ouch.
It makes you think that things that physically block the suns rays are a good bet. Hats, visors, sunglasses, shirts, shade, etc. Going out early and late is a good bet. Paula Begoun has good info on which ingredients are supposed to block more rays. If you get burned, fresh aloe vera gel is the best. Avoid the peels and the area under the peels. Consume vitamin C orally or foods containing vitamin C. If you can't get fresh aloe gel, cooled green tea is helpful. MSM dissolved in water isn't bad either orally or applied topically. Topically, you can add some vitamin C dissolved in water, and some green tea too if you want to. Stay indoors until the burn heals. You can also take the aloe gel internally. Internally some enzymes or anti-oxidants, like sources of SOD that you happen to have, may help too.
From my experience, a hat or visor with makeup and powder containing sunblock is a good bet. Regardless of whatever rays they discover in the future, physically blocking the light will probably help with that.
Part of sun damage is what you take into your body. A smoker and a non-smoker exposed the the same amount of sunlight will respond differently. The toxins in the smoker's body will be drawn to the surface by the sunlight, possibly causing age spots, etc. Other toxins and second-hand smoke can dramatically worsen the damage from the sun as those toxins are drawn to the surface by the sunlight.
Avoiding toxins and consuming a diet high in anti-oxidants will help your skin. In Chinese medicine the lungs and skin are connected, so try to only take clean air into your lungs. Your skin will thank you for it.
Edited by Luminosity, 20 May 2012 - 04:47 AM.
