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Too sunny to handle: Soaring mercury adds to citizens’ woes Saturday, May 19, 2001

By Shramana Ganguly

Ahmedabad, May 17: Come summer, and the sun begins to take toll on Amdavadis, their skin to be precise. As the temperatures soared to 44 degrees in the season, several people across the city are complaining of skin-related disorders, all caused due to exposure to sun.

Dermatologists across the city report of numerous cases of skin disorders – tanning, itching, and boils, among others – in people during summer. “While exposure to the sun harms people across all age groups, people with highly photosensitive skin and children are the ones who are most susceptible to skin damage during summers,” observes Dr Ranjan Rawal of B.J. Medical College’s Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprology. About 20 per cent of the patients who report to the skin department of the Civil Hospital daily are those suffering from sun-induced disorders.

“It is more because of the indifferent attitude of people towards their skin which aggravates the problem,” observes dermatologist Dr Brijesh Madhok. He further adds, “The strong rays of the sun are undoubtedly damaging to human skin, while its ultra-violet radiation is all the more harmful to us.” Cases of dryness of the skin, spotting or pigmentation, etching, increase of non-painful acne on the face, are common ailments people have been complaining after exposure to sun.

“But, burning sensation on the skin is one of the first symptoms of sun-induced skin disorders and should be attended to at the earliest, lest it manifests into other skin disorders,” said dermatologist Dr Mona Shah, adding, “the initial reddening of the skin might further lead to pigmentation, from initial brown color to black and might stay until one takes medication.”

Dr Rawal informs that skin allergies and peculiar polymorphic light eruptions are reported widely amongst patients. “In a city like Ahmedabad, patients particularly complain of freckles, skin pigmentation, sun tanning, appearance of reddish elevated patches on the exposed parts and lip pigmentation,” she says. The exposed part even gets thickened in patients in due course if not attended to, she said.

Importantly, dust aggravates the problem in the city. As observes Dr Shah, “Instead of washing their face repeatedly after being outdoors, people have the tendency to wipe of the sweat with their handkerchief or dupatta. The dust settled on the face thus goes into the skin. “The dust might cause acne on the face, and most likely to suffer are people who are prone to pimples,” says she. Doctors even inform that premature aging – premature graying, wrinkling – is common amongst those who do not take sufficient protection.

According to dermatologists, while girls move around with their dupattas to cover their face and gloves to cover their hands, it does not suffice. “One must use a sun screen lotion with Sun Protective Factor more than 15,” specifies Dr Madhok. While cases of women reporting such cases to practitioners are remarkable, men shy away from it.

“Women are more cautious about changes in the body, texture and prefer to take precautions rather than overlook it,” reasons one of the doctors, adding, “men are still indifferent to a great extent in such cases.”

News Source : The AsianAge Ahmedabad Edition [ The coolest Newspaper for city ]

 

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