There are 17 The Beatles songs that mention the sun or sunshine. How many can you name?
Sunshine is a word that activates emotions — usually good ones. In large part we are offered comfort from being in the warmth and reflected glory of our biggest and brightest star, the sun. But why do New Zealanders suffer so much sunburn?
There are three types of ultraviolet (UV) light: short, middle, and long bands. The burning bands are ‘middle’, and the even more destructive are ‘short’. In New Zealand, short rays are more in abundance than the long ultraviolet rays. UV intensities in the New Zealand summer are extreme on the international UV Index (UVI) scale. The sun-burning strength of UV radiation is usually given in terms of the UVI — a scale first used in Canada — and defined to range from 1 to 10. In the New Zealand summer, UVI values regularly exceed that scale, even in the south of the country where UV is less intense. A recent study showed that peak UVI values in New Zealand are about 40% more than at similar latitudes in North America.
Temperature wise, New Zealand is not a warm country, so we may not always feel the burning rays before damage has been done. And cloudy days are not that safe. Cloud filtrates UV and can also lower our visual horizon and lull us into thinking we are safe from exposure, but this is not a reality. Cloud close to the sun can increase the burn rate.
Wind burn is a common summer complaint. However, the wind does not burn. Simply, wind dries, desiccates, and allows premature ageing of skin. As with cloudy days, a cooling breeze on a hot day is deceptive, as the wind may be keeping us cool, fooling us about how much we are burning from the UV rays.
So, with all these risk management issues, the authorities’ advice about slip, slop, and slap with conservative zeal, is wise.
But there are benefits from sunlight, including:
Vitamin D, calcium, melatonin, and serotonin production, bacterial destruction, as well as easing inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, reduction in skin conditions like psoriasis and acne, and, let’s face it, that feeling of wellbeing from just enjoying a summer day. So, how much time in the sun is safe?
Skin type has a huge influence on how much sun we can safely expose ourselves to. The fairer the skin, the less time it takes to react to the sun’s rays.
About five minutes of summer sun is helpful to health, and then take two days off exposure. Two days later, time and a half can be enabled as the resistance within the skin is building, so seven minutes can be safely imbibed. Increasing every two days by time and a half is the prescription, but, if in doubt, or if you have had skin lesions prior, check first with your primary health provider.
So, as you escape that dark courtroom for the summer break, remember Ralph Waldo Emerson’s advice, "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” But in New Zealand, take care!