Sunscreens & Hiking in the Swiss Alps

by Peter T. Pacik, MD, FACS

I recently returned from a hiking trip in the high Swiss Alps where I spent 2 joyful weeks hiking at altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet almost daily. Every day my soul was encompassed by the beauty of the snow covered peaks, the glaciers, the vastness of being above tree line, the quaint Swiss villages far below and dotting the countryside, and the solitude of the mountains. The experience was profound in many ways and it helps one understand the balance in life, that perhaps things that we attach a great deal of importance to, may not be that important! There is a cleansing of the soul!

In this rarefied atmosphere, the sun is quite strong and it doesn’t take long to burn. I saw many lobster red faces, necks and shoulders and young people with severe sun damage (blotchy brown hyperpigmentation on tanned skin). I see this same degree of sun damage in Florida and many of the sun-belt states that I have traveled.

To achieve a high SPF protection, one needs to lather the skin with an abundance of sunscreen because the actual testing of sun protection factor (SPF) calls for about 1 ounce per each full body (adult) application. Virtually no one uses this much sunscreen which means that, more often than not, the sunscreens are being under-applied and people are not receiving the protection they think they are.

Every morning, I went through the same 5-minute ritual of applying sunscreens and except for a light tan, I felt well protected. I thought it might be beneficial to share this with our readership to give additional insights into both the value of the sunscreens and the proper application.

The first sunscreen that I applied to my face including my ears and the back of my neck was Obagi-C Rx Sunguard SPF 30. Alternatively Obagi NuDerm Healthy Protection SPF 35 can be used equally well. Both products contain both a chemical sunscreen for UVA protection and 9% zinc oxide for UVB protection.

I then applied the Applied Therapeutics Sun Smart Maximum Protection SPF 30 to my arms and legs and to any other exposed area. This sunscreen also has a combination of non-allergic chemical blocks as well as physical blocks (7% zinc oxide) and most importantly is waterproof and holds up well in hot environments, sweating and swimming. The faint micronized zinc oxide can still be seen at the end of a day in the sun and has to be scrubbed off in the shower. Speak about waterproof!

I finished off the process with Obagi NuDerm Physical UV Block SPF 32 which contains micronized zinc oxide 18.5%. A small amount gives excellent coverage and goes on much easier than the older sunblocks and absorbs well into the skin. This block is especially useful for people who have actinic keratoses, skin cancers or post procedures such as recovery from chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. It is also especially useful for people with fair skin who burn easily and also for individuals who are on the advanced skin care program because of the increased exfoliation. Because it contains only zinc oxide, it prevents the penetration of UVB rays but not UVA rays which need a chemical sunscreen for protection.

In the future, I plan to add clothing with UV protection. A hat with neck protection should be part of the program.

While all this may seem excessive, malignant melanoma is a disease that should not be underestimated. While most skin cancers can be treated successfully, melanoma is a serious problem and is on the rise. Once it metastases, death is a likely outcome. This happened to two of my friends, one of whom was a well-known plastic surgeon who made significant contributions to our body of knowledge, and whose life was cut short just prior to retirement.

By age 18, most of us have met the maximum amount of sun exposure recommended. The sun damage that I take care of on a weekly basis is at times mind boggling. Of even greater concern is the relaxed attitude about this. Denial is easy when difficulties present themselves in the future rather than at present. We are able to protect ourselves and our children, we simply need to commit ourselves to staying healthy.

The lesson for me is that even with considerable sun exposure, one can enjoy the great outdoors without taking excessive risk of exposure. I hope these few words will be of help.

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We encourage you to call our office and schedule a free skincare consult with our licensed aesthetician. We will be happy to talk to you about your skin type and condition and make product recommendations. Our MD Forte, Vivite, Clinique Medical, Prevage MD, Glytone, Kinerase, RevaleSkin, Clenziderm, Eau Thermal Avene, Elastiderm, Rosaclear, Obagi Nu-Derm, Obagi-C Rx Advanced Skin Care Programs are all excellent for skin rejuvenation. We can help you decide which skin care program would be best for you. Our aesthetician is available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST  at 1-877-415-0600 or (603) 296-4920. You may also contact us by completing our information request form. Most emails are answered within 24 hours.

The Plastic Surgery Center of Manchester, New Hampshire specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery, including body lifts, breast enlargements, breast lifts, breast reductions, eyelid surgery, ear surgery, facelifts, fat grafting, liposuction, male breast reductions (gynecomastia), neck and chin surgery, nose surgery (rhinoplasty), surgery after massive weight loss, tummy tucks and BOTOX® Cosmetic for vaginismus. We also offer facial rejuvenation (chemical peels, dermabrasion, Obagi Blue Peels, Glycolic Peels, Microdermabrasion), injectables and facial fillers (BOTOX® Cosmetic, Radiesse®, Juvederm®, Perlane® and Restylane®) and advanced skin care to patients from all over New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts). While no responsible practitioner gives guarantees for the work they do on the human body, we can at least reassure you that you will receive the expertise and dedication of over 30 years in practice. Our patients become an important part of our family and we try to get to know each patient individually and customize their treatment to meet their desires. Visit our skincare website to purchase MD Forte, Obagi-C Rx, Obagi NuDerm, Prevage and Vivite advanced skincare products.