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Doctor Michael Freeman
   
Dermatologist and Laser Specialist The Skin Centre
Correction of problems and revitalization of the skin
Staffed by fully accredited and registered Medical Specialists
Patient Information

 

 

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Information on sunlight exposure and Skin cancer prevention

 

The Skin Centre recommends:

  1. Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 500mg morning and night on the days you are going outside.
  2. Sunscreen
  3. Vitamin D

 

  1. The Nicotinamide form of Vitamin B3 should be taken morning and night if more than one hour of exposure to sunlight is expected in a day. (This includes exposure through glass eg driving and also if you are in the shade)   Please be aware that there is another form of vitamin B3 which is not recommended as it causes flushing  (Niacin)   Often the chemist will recommend this form of the B3 vitamin.                                                                     Through research by dermatologists this vitamin has been shown to protect the body's immune system from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. This protection is complementary to sunscreen which should still be worn.                    

  2. Use a double layer of sunscreen when maximum protection from UV exposure is required. Actinica on first followed by an opaque zinc sunscreen for example Ella Bache sunbase foundation or Elizabeth Arden covering cream. Continue to top up the top layer throughout the day.

  3. Sunlight exposure of 2 minutes daily between 10am and 2pm on a minimum of 200 sq CM of skin without sunscreen (equivalent to the back of the hands). This ensures adequate Vitamin D levels for Queenslanders. If this is not possible consider a vitamin D supplement. Your General practitioner will know if this is safe for you.

Any additional sunlight exposure will be damaging to the skin. Sun burn is a result of over exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and should be avoided. The Ultraviolet A radiation early and late in the day is also damaging. There are no immediate signs of over exposure to this kind of radiation. It does cause lines on the skin easy bruising and irregular pigmentation after many years of exposure. You can see from the graph below that it is ideal to have a short exposure in the middle of the day (which generates vitamin D) to reduce the total UVA exposure.

 
   
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