Even during this pandemic, we can participate in outdoor activities that also allow for proper social distancing, like sunbathing, swimming and exercising. But don’t forget you still need to use sunscreen to protect your skin, now and for the future.

Sunscreen protects the skin against premature aging, primarily caused by hyperpigmentation, (darkened patches of skin) which is why dermatologists stress sunscreen’s importance.  It also plays an important role in reducing the risk of skin cancer years after sun exposure. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), 1 in 5 Americans may develop skin cancer in their lifetime. About 20 Americans die from melanoma, a fatal form of skin cancer, every day. So, while people may automatically apply some broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen before leaving home, knowing they should wear sunscreen and choosing the right sunscreen can be two different things. There are so many choices lining the store shelves, which broadly fall into two categories: tinted and non-tinted sunscreens.

Tinted Versus Transparent Sunscreen

Most non-tinted sunscreens do a good job of blocking ultraviolet rays from reaching your skin, but they don’t block visible light. These products are made from chemicals that are so tiny that, once they are applied to the skin, they can reduce the sunscreen’s appearance to the point of invisibility. The products absorb the sun’s rays like a sponge without leaving a white residue. However, the lotion cannot block visible light rays from touching the skin. This is where the colored or tinted sunscreen makes a difference. 

According to Harvard Health Publishing, colored sunscreens – which can match various skin tones – contain pigmentary titanium dioxide and iron oxide. These ingredients create a mix that adds glow to your skin tone while protecting it from the sun by deflecting visible light.  The AAD advises those with sensitive skin to opt for physical sunscreens, another term for tinted sunscreens, to divert those harmful sun rays.  

What is Visible Light?

We need protection from visible light because it can aggravate skin darkening or hyperpigmentation, which can be an underlying symptom of various skin disorders.  Visible light can be as damaging as ultraviolet rays because of its short high energy wavelengths. While the wavelengths visible to the human eye are between 400 nm to 700 nm, the shorter wavelengths are closer to the UV range of between 200 to 400 nm. High energy visible lights falls within the range of 400 to 500 nm. In other words, these rays are nearer to the higher end of the UV light spectrum but are still visible to us, explains Michelle Wong, PhD, a science educator and content creator in Australia in a recent blog post. For this reason, these rays are called high energy visible (HEV) light and are purple or blue in color. 

A small 2010 study of 20 volunteers assessed the pigmentation caused by UV light and visible light. The researchers found that “pigmentation induced by visible light was darker and more sustained.” Therefore, sunscreens that turn away visible light from the skin are recommended.

So, the next time you head out to sunbathe, remember that visible light is a factor to consider when protecting your skin, especially if you tan easily despite regular sunscreen application. It’s important to reapply sunscreen every two hours, regardless of whether it is the regular or tinted form, the AAD says. 

Benefits of Physical Sunscreen

A review of tinted sunscreens published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, April 2020, looked into their multiple benefits. Different shades are created with varying amounts of iron oxide and titanium dioxide to prevent the worsening of a condition called photodermatoses, which causes skin rashes, although these skin lesions don’t usually cause harm in the long run, the researchers said. The review also mentioned that tinted sunscreen could help those with hyperpigmentation-based skin disorders such as melasma. The condition can cause brown patches to appear across the expanse of the face or on a few parts of the face. 

Another study led by the Department of Dermatology, Medcin Clinical Research Center, Osasco, Brazil published in 2019 analyzed 33 sunscreen products available in that country; 17 contained pigments and 16 had none. They found that products created with pigments showed a higher protection value against visible light when compared to products without iron dioxide. 

Once you figure out what suits your skin, be sure to apply sunscreen before going outdoors, even if it’s for a walk around the block. Ensure you rub one ounce or the equivalent of a shot glass of sunscreen to any body part exposed to the sun. Do this about 15 minutes prior to going outside to let the skin absorb the lotion, the AAD recommends.

Henry Fraser wears zinc oxide on his lips as he sits in the shade during a visit to the beach June 20, 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The studies are out there and so is the real-life evidence,  yet their messages of the dangers of concussion are being ignored, say authors of a new study: high school athletes are still sustaining brain injuries and in increasing numbers. These researchers also found that young athletes who get concussions need at least a month to recover. The new was study was published in the journal Orthopedics.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury usually caused by a physical blow to the head, although any hit to the body that rapidly or violently shakes the neck and head can also cause a concussion. Concussions are a common occurrence in several sports, including contact sports like football or individual sports where participants can hit their head from falls, such as skateboarding and downhill skiing. They can also occur off the playing field or surface such as a fall down the stairs, a blow to a head in a car accident. Common symptoms include:

• Headache
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Slurred speech
• Forgetfulness

For this study, researchers observed 357 high school adolescents (62% males) who were on average 15-and-a-half years old and involved in sports from September 2013 to December 2016. The researchers looked at data related to athletes who sustained concussions during this period and compared these to historical data on concussions among young athletes.

According to the research team, led by Toufic R. Jildeh, MD, administrative chief resident in Orthopaedic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan, 33% of participants had concussions while 14% experienced amnesia. Athletes who had one concussion during the study period needed an average of over 30 days to recover before they resumed their sport. For those who experienced recurrent concussions, the recovery period was longer.

The most common sport resulted in concussions was football, at 27.7% of the study particiants; 33.1% of these athletes had previous concussions. The researchers noted that athletes who had a history of previous concussions recorded slower visual motor speed and reaction time than those who had concussions for the first time. 

Co-author Kelechi Okoroha, MD, a sports medicine surgeon at Henry Ford, highlighted in the press release, the main takeaway of their study: “Depending on the number of concussions, the 30-day mark gives us a baseline for how much time adolescent athletes required before returning to sport,” he said.

Jildeh led a similar study that was published in 2019 the American Journal of Sports Medicine. That study focused on players in the National Football League (NFL), but it also resulted in similar findings: recurrent concussions caused players to be sidelined much longer to ensure optimum recovery.  “Historically, the literature reported a concussion prevalence of 4-5%, however recent studies have found that nearly 20% of adolescents have suffered at least one concussion, there’s a huge disparity in terms of reporting over time,” Jildeh said in a press release issued by the university.

While concussions are generally described by medical professionals as a mild form of brain injury, the Mayo Clinic says the effects of this condition can be serious and long-lasting. The original symptoms can continue, and new ones, such as sensitivity to light, irritablity, anxiety, inability to sleep, difficulty concentrating, and balance issues, can last days, weeks, or even months.

Another important issue to keep in mind is second-impact syndrome. This is rare but potentially fatal. If an athlete returns to play while not yet healed from the original concussion, a second impact or blow to the head can cause rapid swelling that can lead to death.

The take-away? Even though concussions are considered mild traumatic brain injuries, they are serious and should be treated seriously.

Concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs due to a traumatic blow to the head. Pixabay