Out and about in the parks, we often see parents frantically applying layers of sunscreen to their kids’ arms and legs in efforts to evade the 30-plus degree and painfully dehydrating heat of the city. Sun care is a market that will continue to develop; according to Statista, the projected growth will reach a $24.9 billion value in 2024. The consciousness is definitely there but why are there fewer adults concerned about the hazards of sun damage?
Aesthetician Rupa often observes de-tan as a quick remedy for sun-damaged skin, but adds, “The damage is often deeper than just getting a tan. The de-tans are barely a quick solution. The care has to start at the home and be regular rather than expecting a facialist to fix the issue. It’s like any other health issue.”
However, a lot of adults’ hesitation to use sunscreens comes from a place of vanity, according to Rupa, who admits to encouraging her clients to invest in a sunscreen. “A lot of people complain that sunscreens don’t have a matte look and as the day progresses, there’s a fair amount of oil build-up which leads too much shine and eventually pimples.” But she says the key is to find a moisturising sunscreen, a hybrid product that will hydrate the skin and prevent that oil accumulation.
“I’ve been told I need to get out more,” says 37-year-old engineer Sumanth K, “because my job doesn’t let me get the Vitamin D I need. And when I do go out, I space out when it comes to sunscreen. In school, we weren’t taught to follow up on sunscreen as a routine, but our kids are told to do this in science and gym class regularly. I guess it’s just a habit we adults need to learn from our kids.” However, Sumanth is aware that with UVB rays projected from his screens at work and at home, he is still exposed to harmful skin damage — and he is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Hyderabadis who aren’t as routine with their suncare regimen as kids.
The numbers
According to a 2013 case study titled Sunscreening Agents by city-based Global Medical Affairs expert Dr M S Latha, “Sunburn is the most commonly encountered skin damage caused by natural light. Improper sunscreen usage and inadequate application also contribute to the increased prevalence of sunburn, despite the frequent use of sunscreening agents.” So what kind of sunscreen agents need to be highlighted? It’s not enough to wear a high SPF product and expect all to be well. Sunscreen shouldn’t just be a ‘holiday’ pick-me-up either; the winter sun isn’t any less harsh.
On that note, another report for Birla Institute of Technology in 2013 by Dr Sujit Kumar and Roop Narayan Gupta states the SPF regulation in India is not as constrained in other countries so consumers need to be aware of what they’re buying, “In India, there is no fixed maximum SPF value, so natural and Ayurvedic/ herbal products with higher SPFs have emerged. The existing regulation of cosmetic products does not require disclosure of composition of the ingredients.”
Tolerances of SPF varies across populations, as do allergies and other irritations towards these products. The response to sunscreens also varies across ages which is why a lot of schools pertain to starting the discourse from a young age. So stock up on the right sunscreen, visit your doctor, and make sure it’s on the regular, in summer or not.
