Updated
August 26, 2007
Skin Care
The sun in The Gambia is hot and being close to the equator it is more intense than the sun in Europe, even with our thin ozone layer - So be prepared
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It is a good idea to wear sunglasses, and a broadbrimmed hat
UK Doctors recommend that fair skinned people avoid the sun from 11am to 3pm
In The Gambia that still gives you 3 full hours of sun in the morning and 4 more hours in the evening.
In Australia 60% of the population is treated for skin cancer at sometime during their lives, this is no passing fad
After your holiday, check your skin for rapidly growing freckles or moles and check them out with your GP
NOTE - Restrictions are still in place about liquids and Gels carried in HAND LUGGAGE - Pack your suntan cream in your main luggage
It is well worth preparing your skin a few weeks before you travel, our pale skins tend to dry out and wrinkle so use a good moisturiser on your face for a couple of weeks before you fly and drink plenty of water. Products containing glycerine are good because it absorbs water in the atmosphere to keep your skin moist
Skin types come in three main types Fair - Olive - Dark
Sun protection factor (SPF) are suitable for different skin
types
Fair use factor 25 - 30
Olive use factor 16 - 18
Dark use factor 12 - 15
The standard unit of time for burning to occur is 5 mins
Each factor provides the time you can spend in the sun x 5
So factor 25 should protect you for 125 minutes, where as factor 12 will only protect you for 60 minutes, but on dark skin you already have some built in protection so each application will last for 2 hours.
Most people do not use enough cream - use the following
as a guide
1 teaspoon full for face and neck
1 dessertspoon full for each full arm
I tablespoon for each leg
Remember to reapply the cream every 2 hours to exposed skin
It is a good idea to take some aftersun lotion in case you do get burnt and of course take some moisturising cream as well.
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