The indispensable
Sun exposure:
- Avoid the brightest periods (between 12 pm and 16 pm);
- Wear light-colored, covering clothing
- Wear sunglasses with filter lenses and a wide-brimmed hat;
- Use a sunscreen adapted to your skin type and apply it regularly;
Exposure to extreme cold:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to cold and wind;
- Dress warmly and cover your head, hands and feet;
- Avoid sudden exertion due to the risk of cardiac arrest, muscle injury, or high energy expenditure.
- Increased vigilance should be exercised with regard to children who have factors that make them less resistant to cold.
Explore more!
Sun exposure
It is important to keep in mind that the use of sunscreens does not allow However, this could lead to overexposure!
Risks
The harmful effects of the sun, besides heatstroke, are due to solar radiation, including UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are primarily responsible for sunburn, Sun burn and Team squamous cell carcinomasOther adverse effects of UV radiation include accelerated skin aging allergic reactions, the actinic keratosis (considered a precancerous lesion), the basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.
The travelers most at risk from complications caused by excessive sun exposure are the children, people with light phototypes (redheads, blond hair, light brown hair), patients taking photosensitizing drugs and people immunocompromised.
Many medications and essential oils are photosensitizing and phototoxic, which warrants specialist advice before departure. Among others, the doxycyclineThis medication, prescribed for malaria chemoprophylaxis, is photosensitizing. However, the risk is low and could be reduced by taking the medication in the evening.
There are also ophthalmological consequences.snow blindness ou photokeratitis is due to eye exposure to UV rays at high altitudes or in polar regions, with UV intensity increasing by 10 to 12% for every 1000 meters of altitude, as snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays. Keratitis is often accompanied by conjunctivitisIt can lead to blindness, but this is temporary. Prevention relies on wearing sunglasses with wide lenses and high UV absorption for the entire duration of exposure, even on cloudy days. The same precautions should be taken when there is a significant risk of glare.
Prevention
The recommended measures for protecting oneself from the sun are as follows:
- Avoid the brightest periods (between 12 pm and 16 pm);
- Wear light-colored, covering (or even photo-protective) clothing;
- Wear sunglasses with filter lenses (CE3 standard preferably, or even CE4 in case of extreme sunlight such as in high mountains on a glacier);
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat that protects the eyes, face and neck;
- Use a sunscreen adapted to your skin type and apply it regularly;
- Apply insect repellent medications at least 20 minutes after sunscreen.
Sunscreen must be applied correctly (2 mg/cm2 of exposed skin), filtering 93% of UVB rays, for a sun protection factor of 15, and 98% of UVB rays for a factor of 50.
Exposure to extreme cold
Extreme cold can endanger vulnerable people, especially elderly children people with disabilities and people with certain chronic diseases.
Risks
frostbite are common. The symptoms ofhypothermia Symptoms are progressive: goosebumps (piloerection), chills, and numbness in the extremities are warning signs. If they persist, medical attention may be required.
Prevention
The measures to be taken to prevent risks related to exposure to extreme cold are as follows:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to cold and wind;
- Dress warmly, in several layers of clothing, with an outer layer that is windproof and waterproof; cover your head, hands and feet;
- Do not keep damp clothing on;
- Avoid sudden exertion due to the risk of cardiac arrest, muscle injury, or high energy expenditure.
A increased vigilance must be exercised towards children which exhibit factors of lower resistance to cold.
Source: Guide to Health Recommendations for Travellers from the High Council of Public Health
