sunburn – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Skin health and beauty- big business

Browse social media or news sites online and you notice skin health and appearance is a priority for most people. Sales for skin care products and services is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen posts from friends who are involved in direct-selling companies for skin care, maybe you are also.

As a family physician, I treated skin problems frequently. Some of them were due to skin diseases, but some resulted from lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and even medical treatments. While some of these may be unavoidable, others are preventable.

Skin Deep- cells and layers

First, let’s take a deeper look at our skin, it’s more complex than you may realize. It has two layers-

the top layer, the epidermis

the lower layer, the dermis

: The layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis), as well as an inset with a close-up view of the types of cells in the skin (squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes). Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Don Bliss (Illustrator) This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source and, where possible, the creator listed above.

Skin disease and trauma involve damage to one or both layers of the skin- the dermis or epidermis, or to the individual cells- squamous cells, basal cells, or the melanocytes-the cells with pigment that give our skin color.

Cancers can develop in any cell of the skin. Melanoma is cancer of the melanocytes.

(This photo is for illustration only and should not be used to diagnose a skin lesion. See a physician if you have a skin lesion that concerns you. )

: a melanoma skin lesion-Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Unknown Photographer- This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source

Ultraviolet light-an avoidable risk to skin health and appearance

Basking in sunlight may enhance your mood, but too much of it can damage your skin.

The signs of photo-aging are obvious to physicians-

yellowing of the skin complexion
dry and rough texture with wrinkling,
unevenly pigmented skin tone with dilated blood vessels.
stretched out
easy bruising

Visit this link from the Canadian Dermatology Association to see what photoaged skin looks like

Photoaging

Photoaging is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), primarily from the sun but also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Besides aging, excess sun exposure can cause

Burns
Rash due to increased sun sensitivity when taking certain medications
Cancers- skin cancers are the most common type of cancer.

How to limit UV light exposure

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher
Wear hats, sunglasses, sun protective clothing
Avoid sun exposure, especially from 10 am to 4 pm
No tanning bed use.

Learn more about the effects of sun exposure from familydoctor.org at this link.

What sun exposure does to our skin.

: We all care about our appearance, including this cute monkey. Photo by Andre Mouton on Pexels.com

exploring the HEART of skin health

I appreciate your time and interest in exploring and sharing the HEART of health with me. And I especially appreciate your sharing my posts wherever you hang out.

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Dr. Aletha

You’ve probably seen the movie, Titanic. I toured the Titanic museum in Branson, Missouri, a sobering experience. The loss of so many lives is staggering, especially since it should have been prevented with better preparation, including enough lifeboats for everyone on board.

Titanic museum, replica of ship and iceberg — The Titanic Museum, Branson, Missouri

A Doctor Takes a Cruise

One summer I went on a cruise vacation which fared far better than the Titanic. This was the third cruise I have ever been on, but the last one was so long ago that I had forgotten some of the details.

(This is not a sponsored post, instead, there are affiliate links not connected with the cruise line. Using them does not cost you extra and will help fund this blog. Thank you. )

As a physician, I view experiences in medical terms. I was impressed with the rules and procedures that keep the guests and crew healthy and safe.

I’m not revealing the cruise line’s name, but it is one of the large, well-known ones, with a good reputation as far as I know. I can’t vouch that this cruise is typical of all cruise companies, so I offer these observations that you can consider if you ever go on a cruise.

Safety drill- lifeboats, jackets

Before the ship left the dock, we participated in a safety drill where we all had to assemble at our assigned stations where we would go in case of an emergency. Once there, the crew took roll by checking our ID cards (more on this later) to make sure we were all there.

We had life vests in our room and there would also be life vests at the stations in case we weren’t in our room at the time the alarm sounded. Unlike the Titanic, we were assured there was room on the lifeboats for everyone on board.

Security, photo id, room key

Upon checking in, they issued us a photo ID card that was our room key and a charge card for onboard purchases. When we left the ship at the ports, we showed the card which was scanned, then showed it again to get back on the ship.

a line of people boarding a ship — showing ID to return to the ship after a day in port

Children-arm bands

We weren’t traveling with children ourselves, but children wore armbands with identification in case of getting separated from their parents.

Food allergies and preferences.

Food is plentiful on a ship and a wide variety of choices. Some venues are buffets but in the sit-down dining room, the wait staff always inquired about food allergies and special diet needs before we ordered our meal.

a couple sitting at a table by a window with an ocean view — We enjoyed lunch with an ocean view.

Here is a link to my post on

How to manage food allergy with confidence

Hygiene

Antibacterial hand gel was everywhere, along with reminders to use it.

Outside of every food venue, there were containers and a crew member there to dispense it to you.

There were strict warnings about what not to put into the toilets. As we heard at the introductory session, “If one toilet on a cruise ship backs up, they all back up.” Not a pleasant thought.

a sign- IMPORTANT-please do not throw foreign objects into the toilet bowl.

A daily newsletter with cruise information and schedule was delivered to our cabin every day. This note about health was posted daily-

Medical experts tell us that the best way to prevent colds, flu, or gastrointestinal illnesses-such as Norovirus-is to simply wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. After restroom breaks and again before eating.

Should you experience any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness (vomiting, diarrhea) do not go to the ship’s medical facility. Call the medical staff for a complimentary consultation and treatment. A member of the medical staff will see you in your stateroom.

Medical facility on board

If you do need to go to the medical station, there is a doctor on duty for 3 hours in the morning and afternoon. (On a previous cruise, I visited the medical station for a tour. It looked modern and well stocked.)

Smoking- designated areas only

Smoking is not allowed in any of the cabins or balconies, including electronic cigarettes. There were designated smoking areas outside and in the casino.

Here are some reminders on why it’s wise not to smoke-

7 surprising reasons to be smoke free

Fitness and Sports

If you wanted to exercise, there was ample opportunity.

Swimming and other water sports

A fully equipped gym
Rock climbing wall
Walking/jogging path outside.

Classes in yoga, stretching, cycling, and dance.
Competitions in volleyball, table tennis, dodgeball, basketball
Ice skating
Dance venues
Miniature golf

a mini golf course with a beach theme — Beach theme mini golf

Spa services

In addition to the usual spa services like hair and face treatments, they offered

Massage
Acupuncture
Teeth whitening
Anti-aging treatments
“Detox”

Potential health risks

Are there any aspects of a cruise experience that might be detrimental to one’s health? Consider these things.

Sun

This ship sailed in a tropical climate so there was ample sun, both while on the ship and in the tropical ports. So obviously there was a risk of sunburn, dehydration, and long-term development of skin cancer due to sun exposure. Sunscreen was a must if you stayed outside.

Noise

There were multiple musical venues on just about every deck, as well as the general noise generated by thousands of people. For people who have sensory issues to noise, sensitive ears, or hearing loss the noise level might be uncomfortable.

Motion

We were fortunate to have smooth sailing except for a few hours when the sea was rough, causing me to feel off balance but not seasick. If you are highly sensitive to motion, sail on a small ship, or hit rough seas, you may get seasick, which is not pleasant.

Addictions-food, alcohol, gambling, shopping

If you tend to be compulsive or addicted to activities like eating, drinking alcohol, gambling, or spending money, a cruise may not be the best place to vacation.

Food is abundant, delicious, varied, and “free”- meaning it’s all-inclusive with the price you paid (although there were some special meal venues that cost extra.)

a promenade on a cruise ship — On the promenade there were food and shopping opportunities.

Alcohol purchase is not included in the cruise fare but is easily purchased in dining venues as well as bars. (However, they strictly enforced not providing alcohol to minors.)

Gambling was available in the centrally located casino, open from morning until late at night.

Shopping on the promenade and in the ports- clothes, jewelry, art, liquor, wine, souvenirs, and who knows what else.

an art gallery with bright colored pictures — The art gallery, where they had auctions every day

There were so many activities offered it was impossible to try them all. And there were places where one could escape for some quiet time to read, play a game, or just sit and enjoy the view.

a small chapel — The chapel offered a peaceful, quiet place for meditation.

Post Images

I shot all of the photos in the blog post.

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Tag: sunburn

Maximizing Skin Health and Beauty: Exploring Skin Care Concerns

Skin health and beauty- big business

Skin Deep- cells and layers

Ultraviolet light-an avoidable risk to skin health and appearance