BinSina Pharmacy, the oldest pharmacy chain in the UAE, has launched a campaign to increase awareness about the dangers of overexposure to the summer sun and the range of precautions on offer.

As part of the Stay Safe in the Sun campaign, the pharmacy is offering its customers personal advice and guidance on suitable products to help protect them from the sun’s harmful rays.

The campaign stresses the importance of avoiding direct exposure, particularly between 11am and 4pm, as well as avoiding exposure to direct sunlight if suffering from acne, pigmentation, sensitive or damaged skin. A high factor SPF sunscreen is also recommended, even if just out and about, rather than sunbathing.

The campaign also advocates that people drink plenty of water during the hot summer months, particularly when outside, to avoid dehydration and skin damage.

Dr Saleema Shurrab, general manager of BinSina Pharmacy Group in the UAE said: “Summer is a time for having fun outdoors. By taking some simple, sensible precautions and staying out of the sun during the hottest times of the day, we can all enjoy time outside during the summer months without harming ourselves.”

“Our campaign will provide targeted guidance for all ages and increase awareness amongst members of our community to alert them to the damage that the sun can potentially cause.”

Dr Shurrab cautioned against deliberately exposing babies and toddlers to direct sunlight because the sun can weaken the immune system of children and aggravate skin diseases.

Furthermore, she said that children and babies’ skin have lower defense levels against the sun’s rays so are even more at risk of sunburn. It is far better to keep babies and toddlers in the shade whenever possible and apply a high factor SPF sunscreen.

BinSina’s Stay Safe in the Sun campaign incorporates avoiding the sun’s harmful rays and proactively protecting the skin, as well as treating any sun damage, should it occur.

On the protection level in particular, the campaign emphasises the importance of applying a high factor SPF sunscreen lotion every two hours when out in the sun (more regularly if swimming), as well as wearing hats, sunglasses and seeking shade during the hottest part of the day.

Dr Shurrab added that while no tan is a ‘safe tan’, should people want to lie out in the sun, she highly recommends using the right SPF sunscreen for their skin type, and sunbathers should seek consultation before exposing themselves to the sun.

In addition, the campaign warns against using perfumes when skin is exposed to the sun, as it can result in causing permanent skin pigmentation, and advises pregnant women in particular that they might have skin pigmentation sensitivity due to hormonal changes. – TradeArabia News Service