Okinawa City doctor offers tips on
protecting yourself against sun's rays
By Chiyomi Sumida, Okinawa
bureau
David Allen / Stars and Stripes
The black flag flies Thursday at Camp Foster as Okinawa's heat wave continues. The flag,
which has flown every day in August, warns Marines and others to find shelter in a cool
location. |
OKINAWA CITY — Watch out for Okinawa’s sizzling sun.
A local skin doctor warns island residents that while the heat and humidity can readily
be felt during this record-breaking month, an unseen danger can kill.
Solar ultraviolet radiation, commonly called ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B
(UVB), is dangerous to human skin, says Dr. Ming-Ching Liao, a skin specialist in Okinawa
City.
UVA goes deep into the skin, damaging collagen, the anti-aging substance, Liao says.
"The skin damaged by UVA is prone to get dark spots," he says.
That may be unsightly, but UVB is the killer.
"UVB promotes aging and causes skin cancer," he says.
Drivers have limited protection by their windshields, which reduce UVB’s strength.
Tinted glass reduces the effect even more.
Wearing protective clothing, preferably dark colors, also helps, Liao says.
That’s why many Okinawan women can be seen wearing hats, long-sleeved blouses and
gloves when they drive. Parasols and umbrellas are also a common sight on sunny days.
The annual average amount of solar ultraviolet radiation on Okinawa is 1.5 times more
than that of Tsukuba, a city near Tokyo, and 1.7 times more than Sapporo on Hokkaido,
according to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s statistics for the past eight years.
Shuntoku Shinzato, an atmospheric weather specialist at the Okinawa Meteorological
Observatory, says that harmful UVB is normally absorbed by the ozone layer. But the layer
that works as a cushion is being depleted.
"When the ozone layer is working normally, it will protect us from the UVB’s
harmful rays, but the ozone layer is getting thinner as Freon in the atmosphere
increases," he says.
Shinzato says that the ozone layer exists between six to 31 miles above the Earth.
"It is like our planet is wearing a delicate silk dress that protects us,"
Shinzato says.
When the ozone layer is depleted and UV rays are directly reaching our skin, there are
two things we can do to protect our bodies from the harmful rays, says Liao.
"First, take sufficient Vitamin C and Vitamin A, and beta carotene, which is
richly contained in carrots. Secondly, make sure to put sunscreen on before you go
out," he says.
The higher the level of sun protection factor, or SPF, listed on the sunscreen bottle,
the more effective it is. But, the amount of effectiveness also varies depending on other
conditions.
"The sunscreen is easily removed by perspiration," Liao says. "I
recommend applying it every two hours," especially those who sunburn easily.
"People whose skin becomes reddish after sunburn are very susceptible to skin
cancer," he says. "Exposing bare skin under the sun for long hours should
certainly be avoided."
Liao also advises parents not to forget to put sunscreen on children.
"Their skin will recover from the sun’s damage much quicker than
adults," he says. "But it will accumulate and accelerate the skin aging process
as they mature."
He recommends preparing for ultraviolet rays on Okinawa year-round — even on
cloudy days — because the rays come through the clouds.
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