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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-07-14, Page 4Leading the way Photo h , Bonnie Gropp The Right Medicine Finding the right sunscreen By Dan Taylor By now, most people are aware that there are risks associated with excessive exposure to the sun, which have increased in the last few years, due to ozone layer damage. The sun gives off energy in the form of ultraviolet radiation (UV),- described as either UVA or UVB, which can reach us even on cloudy days. UVA rays do not cause sunburns, but can be responsible for causing skin cancer while UVB rays are responsible for both. Exposure to UV radiation, in the short term, results in sunburn. Chronic exposure results in wrinkles, tough, dry skin, and splotchy colour changes to the skin. As well, there is some evidence that it may affect the human immune system. The most feared effects are the skins cancers, particularly malignant melanoma, which can be treated when diagnosed early. Many of us welcome the warm sun of summer after our long, cold winters. We do not want to live our lives in fear of the sun, nor is it always possible to avoid exposure to the sun. We need a rational approach to being in the sun. Some dermatologists believe that most of the damage occurs before the age of 10, when we are likely to be exposed to more sun than we will during the rest of our lives. It is recommended, therefore, that children under the age of 12 months not be exposed to the sun at all. Use a sun umbrella, cover an infant's head when outside, or dress the child in long sleeves and long pants. Sunscreens are not recommended for use on infants under the age of six months. Choosing the best sunscreen for older children and adults can be confusing since not all dermatologists agree. Some believe we should use a minimum SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30, and an SPF higher than that is even better, while others believe that an SPF of 15 should be adequate for most People. In choosing a sunscreen you must remember that the SPF number determines your protection from only UVB rays, thus preventing sunburn. However, a sunscreen with a high SPF factor does not necessarily protect you from UVA rays, which are also linked to skin 'cancer. UVA protection is especially important if you are taking medications that react with sunlight, or if you are at a risk for skin cancer. Unless the label states that the sunscreen provides UVA protection, it does not. As well, sunscreens can claim to provide UVA protection, but they may not provide protection for the whole range of UVA radiation. You would be wise to discuss the UVA protection of any particular sunscreen with your pharmacist. The choice of an SPF factor depends on how sensitive you are to sun exposure and the length of time you are going to be exposed to the sun. Starting with an SPF of at least 15 is advisable. You may also want to consider the other ingredients contained in the sunscreen when deciding upon which to purchase. For example, alcohol-based sunscreens should not be used on children. However, those sunscreens, as well as gel- based sunscreens may be more useful for you if you will be doing heavy exercise while outside since they are less likely to block pores, allowing you to cool off properly. When using sunscreens you should remember the following: • read the label to determine when it is best to apply the sunscreen. Some products can be applied as little as fifteen minutes before exposure, but others should be applied an hour before exposure (consider 40-60 minutes the standard). • reapply the sunscreen after getting wet or if you are sweating a lot, even if the sunscreen is waterproof since you may rub it off when drying yourself. • sunscreens should be used to protect yourself when it is difficult to use other means (i.e. clothing and hats), and for areas that are hard to protect (ears, face, neck). They are not to be used to allow for excessive exposure to the sun. *reapplication of a sunscreen does not extend the period of protection. I would like to mention one last thing. The people who are at the greatest risk for developing malignant melanoma are those who have freckles, those who sunburn easily and tan poorly, redheads, blue-eyed blondes, or others who have a fair complexion, those with a family history, of melanoma, people who work or play outside a lot. People with many or peculiar- looking moles are also at high risk. — Dan Taylor is a pharmacist in Blyth. Letters Habitat-Huron still a prospect THE EDITOR, It has come to my attention that there are persons in this area who believe that Habitat for Humanity has already constructed, or is operating, homes in this area. This is not the case. Habitat for Humanity - Huron is still a prospective affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada, and has not received legal or official status. Habitat affiliates are non-profit, non-government organizations which help recipient families build their own homes. These families pay for their homes by way of a mortgage of up to 20 years. Because Habitat is non-profit, families are not charged interest on their mortgage. Instead, they invest 500 hours (many families give Continued on page 5 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993. C The North Huron itizen eNA. CCNA P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BL'(TH, Ont BRUSSELS, Ont. NON 1140 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523.9140 FAX 887.9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell IfflilF110 CIPCULATIONI rut) The Citizen is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable In advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.18 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A. and Foreign. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscrIpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Amalgamations on the way? Huron County residents have been fighting regional government for decades but with recent developments one has to question if its just a matter of time before we get it one way or another. On one hand, municipalities are faced with both cutbacks in provincial grants and increased costs as the provincial ditorial government introduces taxes on sand and gravel and other road- 1 building materials. These increased costs and decreased revenues are going to make it harder and harder to maintain current levels of service and current levels of independence. Can municipalities continue to maintain, for instance, large road building departments if the government is cutting grants and raising costs at the same time? Can each of the 26 municipalities afford the burden of the administrative costs of independent municipal offices. At the same time, Huron County struggles to find an answer on how to fairly give representation at county council to all municipalities large and small. Last week the councillors turned down a proposal which would give reeves of larger municipalities more than one vote as a way to more fairly represent the larger populations of those towns and townships. Many councillors continue to insist that each municipality have one vote at the county level. Representatives of some of the larger municipalities, naturally, think their municipality should have extra clout to represent their larger population. The provincial government had originally proposed a way of having one vote per municipality at the same time as giving representation closer to population. Municipalities in re-organized counties should have a minimum 4,000 population, the original study suggested. Huron County residents have a right to be wary of regional government. Experience has shown that, despite the theory that fewer governments should reduce costs, the reality has generally been that costs increase. It has been that way with regional governments elsewhere. It has been that way with county boards of education. Still, if Huron's municipalities can't find ways to solve their current problems it may be a matter of time before we get what we don't want.—KR The power of the people It's heartening for Canadian citizens that sometimes their voice is heard, even by "politicians" who don't have to be elected. Canadians Senators were called back to Ottawa this week to rethink their earlier decision to vote themselves a $6,000 increase in their expense allowances. The Senators had voted the increase, then taken off for a lengthy vacation. But the uproar over the decision was deafening as outraged citizens from coast to coast reacted. Many called for abolition of the Senate. Faced with this kind of revolt, and with an election looming this fall, leaders of all parties put the squeeze on the senators to rethink their vote . . . and quickly. The result was that senators returned from their vacations for a second vote. Often citizens feel hopeless to effect change. Sometimes it seems nobody listens. This time, thankfully, someone did.— KR Whims of public scary It's absolutely frightening how easy it is for a president to lose public support in the United States, and how easy it is to regain it with a little saber rattling. After being elected on a wave of optimism, President Bill Clinton saw his popularity plummet within weeks when he failed to deliver a wonderful new world. It took only a missile attack on Iraq, however, to bring many Americans back on side and have his popularity soar again. On the weekend President Clinton strengthened his image by touring U.S. troop positions on the edge of the demilitarized zone between south and North Korea. Is the U.S. public ever going to grow out of its juvenile love affair with its military might? Jimmy Carter, an otherwise decent man, was humbled politically when he failed to rescue American hostages in Iran. George Bush, on the other hand, was tremendously unpopular when the Desert Storm war against Iraq broke out. His popularity soared instantly, particularly when the allied forces scored a huge (if short-term) victory with very little American loss of life. Unfortunately for Mr. Bush, there were no wars closer to election time, his popularity faded and he lost the election.. Now another president discovers the instant popularity that comes with military success. As long as it works, politicians will be tempted to use it. Even if they don't, people will always wonder if U.S. military interventions were undertaken for internal political reasons. — KR