Severe heat at the beginning of the year, how to prevent effectively?

Southern region is hot and sunny, UV index is at its highest

As Thanh Nien reported, the South is experiencing the most severe heat wave since the beginning of the dry season. In Ho Chi Minh City, the highest temperature during and after Tet is commonly 35 - 36 degrees Celsius. Areas affected by severe heat include districts 1, 3, 4, Tan Binh, Tan Phu, Phu Nhuan, Binh Tan, Hoc Mon, 12, Cu Chi, 7, Thu Duc City...

The South is experiencing a severe heat wave.

Meanwhile, the Eastern provinces commonly have temperatures from 35 - 37 degrees Celsius and the Western provinces 35 - 36 degrees Celsius. In the first heat wave bulletins, the Southern Hydrometeorological Station predicted that the heat wave could last until February 18 (the 9th day of Tet), but later updates showed that the heat wave would continue for the next 5 days, corresponding to around February 23 - 24.

According to the update of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting on the afternoon of April 23, the highest temperature in the Southern region was recorded at 31-34 degrees, and in the Eastern region at 35-37 degrees. Cloudy, sunny during the day, hot in the Eastern region, no rain at night.

The global UV forecasting application (SunSmart) predicts that the UV index in Ho Chi Minh City will be at its maximum level (12 - 13) in the next 3 days (February 24 - 26), especially dangerous from 8:00 to 16:00. According to the WHO's hazard classification table, a UV index of 11 is considered maximum and extremely dangerous for the skin when going out at this time.

Is wearing a jacket and mask enough to protect against the sun?

On February 24, Master - Doctor Ta Quoc Hung, Department of Dermatology - Cosmetic Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the use of jackets and masks to protect against the sun must be based on material, color, and thickness.

"If you wear a medical mask that exposes both ears or thin jackets in yellow or white colors... it will not be enough to protect against the sun and prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin," Dr. Hung shared.

Accordingly, sun protection clothing should be made of cotton that absorbs sweat well and is thick enough to block out sunlight. Dark colors like black and brown block UV rays better than yellow and white.

Using medical masks or thin coats that do not cover the entire body will not be effective in sun protection.

According to Dr. Hung, most of the sun-protective shirts and skirts sold on the market are thick enough to provide protection. To check, we can use a flashlight to shine through. If no light from the flashlight gets through, we can be sure that the shirt is thick enough to provide sun protection.

However, according to Dr. Hung, only when the entire body is covered can it be protected from the sun. In reality, moving around or exercising can make it impossible to cover the body with a jacket, mask, or sun-protective skirt. In that case, using sunscreen is essential.

Sunscreen pills and diet

"You should use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and choose a sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type. For example, if you have oily, acne-prone skin, you should choose an oil-free cream and apply it every two hours to ensure effective sun protection," Dr. Hung recommends.

In addition, according to Dr. Hung, in cases where it is not possible to apply sunscreen continuously every 2 hours, using sunscreen pills will have a good sun protection effect. Especially in cases where you have to go out between 10am and 3pm, using sunscreen pills will help supplement the remaining measures.

Regarding diet, Dr. Hung said that you should increase foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and E to support effective sun protection.

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