April 21, 2025
ISLAMABAD – Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Please don’t. As the sun blazes down on several parts of Pakistan and the weather continues to get hotter, a summer’s day is not the ideal comparison, Shakespeare. If anything, the heightened levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays are making us incomparable in the worst way.
To make matters worse, these scorching hot days take a toll on our skin — the largest organ we have. See, the sun’s UV light can cause major damage to the skin. According to Harvard Health, “the sun’s heat dries out areas of unprotected skin, depletes the skin’s supply of natural lubricating oils [and] UV radiation can cause burning and long-term changes in the skin’s structure.”
Over the course of your life, repeated exposure to the sun, especially without protection, can pose potential risks of malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
So, how does one protect themselves from harmful radiation? We spoke to two dermatologists to get you the answers! (Hint: it’s SPF aka Sun Protection Factor).
Well-known Karachi-based dermatologist Dr Afzal Lodhi had some excellently catchy advice — “Slip, slop, slap. You need to remember to slip on full-length clothes to protect your body, slop on sunscreen on exposed skin and slap on a wide-brimmed hat or scarf for protection from visible sunlight.” He explained that sunscreen only protects from UVA and UVB rays, therefore added protection is important.
Dr Lodhi said dehydration during the summer was another factor contributing to poor skin health as it caused early ageing, and emphasised the need to drink plenty of fluids. He recommended a balanced diet, stress management, and no smoking for maximum skin protection.
Dr Shireen Rehmatullah, another Karachi-based dermatologist, echoed Dr Lodhi’s advice and underscored the importance of sunblock, full-length clothing, plenty of water and moisturiser. Moisturiser helps protect the skin’s barrier and keeps water trapped in the upper layers of the skin, making sure your skin is, well, moisturised, as the name so cleverly suggests.
So, why is sunblock important and which one should you buy? Well, it depends on YOUR skin.
The key ingredient in protecting your skin from the sun is SPF. Dr Lodhi told us that, simply put, SPF helps against radiation. He said that everyone needs protection against the skin, even brown people. He explained that previously, the strong ozone layer hindered UV rays from reaching us, however, now, thanks to industrialisation, the ozone layer is depleting, allowing harsher skin-damaging UV rays to reach us.
However, it is pertinent to note that you don’t need to become a vampire and stop stepping out in the sun — it does have benefits like providing us with much-needed vitamin D. You just need to take adequate precautions.
Sunblock versus sunscreen
We often hear the terms sunblock and sunscreen used interchangeably, but they’re not the same products. Dr Rehmatullah explained that sunscreen consists of the chemical compound benzine which absorbs the sun’s rays instead of letting your body absorb them. Meanwhile, sunblock is comprised of minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which repel sun rays. Neither is better than the other.
“It depends on the individual. Your doctor will examine you, help determine your skin type and then suggest what is best for you. For example, if someone is eczematic or has allergies then we won’t give them sunblock with chemicals, we would recommend physical barriers from the sun.”
Karachi-based dermatologist Dr Asma Qaiser Qureshi told Images in 2019 that, “sunblocks categorised as ‘broad spectrum’, mean that your product has ingredients that can protect you from UVA rays as well as UVB. That’s what you need to incorporate into your skincare routine.”
She also emphasised the need to reapply your SPF. “When you’re out in the open air near the water, you need to reapply your sunblock every two hours and if you’re in the water or if you sweat, you should reapply immediately.”
What SPF should you purchase?
When you’re buying sunscreen or sunblock you will notice the SPF number on the bottle. That number can range from SPF 20 to 50+.
Dr Lodhi explained that SPF was not a significant concern for brown people. For example, if your skin takes a minute to burn, SPF 30 will ensure it takes 30 minutes to burn, adding 30 times the protection. For people with more melanin, our skin takes longer to burn. But remember, just because it takes longer to burn does not mean it will not burn!
On the other hand, Dr Rehmatullah recommended that everyone use at least SPF 50 for maximum protection.
Ultimately, as the dermatologists emphasised, it is important to visit your skin doctor and consult them about what kind of SPF and what formulation you should be using, depending on your unique skin type. Dr Lodhi highlighted that during the summers, it is more suitable to use lighter, gel-based sunscreens, especially for those with oily skin.
Additionally, both doctors told Images that applying vitamin C serum during the day and vitamin A serum at night were crucial steps to having healthier skin.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps combat toxins which come into contact with your skin, especially because of air pollution. Vitamin C can also help protect the skin from harmful UV rays when used in conjunction with broad-spectrum SPF.
Meanwhile, Vitamin A is a retinoid that reduces the appearance of ageing by promoting collagen production, helps prevent damage, and protects the skin from UV rays and pollution. According to Healthline, it improves skin elasticity and sagging by helping remove damaged elastin fibres and promoting the formation of new blood vessels.
As people used to living under harsh temperatures, many of us South Asians forget that too much sun exposure and not enough skincare can be detrimental to our skin. Tanning, early ageing aka wrinkles, dryness, acne and fungal infections courtesy of sweat, and pigmentation are all issues both doctors treat frequently during the summer months.
An image published in the New England Journal of Medicine showcased the damage the sun can do to a person’s skin. An unidentified trucker had been driving for 28 years and had accumulated exposure to UVA radiation.
The 69-year-old has a condition called unilateral dermatoheliosis and his skin gradually thickened as UVA rays penetrated the skin’s layers causing premature aging and wrinkles. According to the journal, chronic UVA exposure can result in the thickening of the skin’s top layers, as well as the destruction of the skin’s elastic fibres.
Due to the hours he spent behind the wheel, the driver had excessive damage on the left side of his face.
According to CBS News, experts had thought only UVB rays, which cause sunburn, were the main cause of skin cancer but recent research suggests UVA rays can damage DNA in the skin’s deepest layers, increasing the risk that they become cancerous.
While extreme skin conditions can occur after prolonged exposure, there are also ailments that happen sooner. Dr Lodhi explained that during heatwaves, sun damage caused blemishes and two-toned, uneven skin in many patients. He recommended that people suffering from these issues visit their doctors instead of using formula creams and whitening creams that damage your skin from the inside. He said he saw at least one or two patients every day who had skin concerns because they used these creams during the summer.
In conclusion, slap on some sunscreen (or sunblock) before you step out to protect your skin. And remember to hydrate, moisturise and use vitamins A and C.