Telemundo Telenoticias: (July 7, 2014)
What do you need to know to care for your skin this summer?
Ivonne:
Well, summer is here, with vacations and many outdoor activities; but this is the kind of fun that can be harmful to your skin. What do you need to know to take care of your skin? Oculoplastic Surgeon Dr. Jose Raul Montes is here to talk to us about it. Good morning. Welcome.
Dr. JRM:
Good morning Ivonne and good morning to our viewers.
Ivonne:
Well, what are we risking with the exposure to our wonderful sun?
Dr. JRM:
Number one Ivonne, we know that we live in a country which obviously has summer year-round (sun exposure), but now in summer people tend to participate in more outdoor activities. Therefore, sun exposure increases considerably. What are the consequences of excessive sun exposure? We know, obviously, that Puerto Rico has a high incidence of skin cancer. When I was studying my specialty in the United States, I was told: «look, when you return to Puerto Rico, you are not going to see skin cancer, because this is a disease that affects Caucasian people, with blond hair and blue eyes.» They were wrong. Skin cancer, is not only a disease that can affect people of very light skin and eyes; it is a disease that can affect all types of skin and in Puerto Rico is very, very common and we see it –at least in my practice every day.
Ivonne:
What harm can each ray cause there are two types of rays?
Dr. JRM:
There are ultraviolet-type-A rays, which basically are mostly responsible for the oxidative damage in the skin’s DNA. What happens is: the skin loses its ability to (basically) restructure itself, to recover from the insult which is an inflammation, and causes damage, progressing into malignant cells that may be basal or squamous cells skin cancer.
Ivonne:
With the existing technology, are there any methods that show the damage the skin has suffered due to years of exposure, which we particularly endure in a tropical island?
Dr. JRM:
Fortunately, today we have very specialized cameras, and we have one in my office (I don’t know if we are going to have the graph available here for viewing). This is what is called the ImagePro. This camera has the distinctiveness that it can measure the facial damage of anyone, at any age, any type of skin, at the very early stage and it helps. For example, we have photos here: the patient simply places her head here, the ultra violet light is used to measure the size of the pores, where the porphyrins are, which are simply the skin’s oxidative reactions and where the sun damage is accumulated. Moreover, if we look at this photo notice Ivonne that she is a little girl with light skin (white skin), and yet in the third graph we already see those dark areas, which is an indication that this girl has had excessive sun exposure, usually seen in areas such as the nose, etc.
Ivonne:
If we find these spots, what is the remedy, if any?
Dr. JRM:
Obviously, with this type of patient, we have to tell them that they have to use sunscreen. What kind of sunscreen? For that, we must consider if they are chemicals or whether they are physical, depending on the person’s skin type. What number of solar protection is recommended? Generally, 30 to 50 or more. How to re-apply? Apply sunscreen at least every two or three hours, if the person is in physical activity. Another thing that we need to use, in addition to the sunscreen, are antioxidants, which is something new that we have come to understand that works and which we never did before. Do you want to maximize the effect of a sunscreen? Use it with an antioxidant. What are these? Liquid Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Feluric, Resveratrol. In combination with the sunscreen, applied several times a day, you will ensure (obviously you have to protect your eyes with sunglasses, hats, etc.), you will make certain that you have a healthy younger looking skin and free of cancer.
Ivonne:
Well doctor, thank you very much indeed for the awareness.
Dr. JRM:
My pleasure.