Most folk remedies against sunburn are ineffective and might exacerbate inflammation, Chi Mei Medical Center department of dermatology doctor Cheng Pai-shan (鄭百珊) said.
Using aloe vera to soothe burns and relieve pain, or using cucumber slices to rehydrate the skin, might cause contact dermatitis, Cheng said.
Minute amounts of photosensitive matter in aloe vera and cucumber might also increase the absorption of ultraviolet rays by the skin, she added.
Cheng suggested using aloe or cucumber extracts instead of directly applying the plants to the injured area.
Ointments such as Tiger Balm or Mentholatum are mistakenly perceived as effective treatments for burnt skin and as soothing inflammation due to the “cooling” effect of the products, Cheng said.
The cooling effect stems primarily from menthol contained in the products, and their application to sunburnt skin will not only increase irritation, but might also hamper the dissipation of heat through pores, Cheng said.
The best treatment for sunburn is to help skin cool using compresses made from towels soaked in cold water, she said, adding that the dissipation of heat will not only slow down inflammation, but will also soothe the pain.
Using anti-inflammatory ointments would be the next step if only a small area is affected, Cheng said, adding that people should see a dermatologist for large sunburns.
People can also apply moisturizer to the burnt area, Cheng said, adding that exfoliating products should not be used to help the inflamed skin repair itself.
Cheng said people should wear long-sleeved clothing and use parasols to prevent sunburn.
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) hosted a dinner in Taipei last night with key Taiwanese suppliers to celebrate the successful mass production of the company’s new Blackwell AI systems. Speaking to the media earlier yesterday, Huang thanked Nvidia’s Taiwanese partners for their contributions to the company’s ecosystem, while also sharing his plans to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀). In response to rumors that Nvidia will launch a downgraded Hopper H20 chip for China in July, Huang dismissed the reports, saying, “That is not true.” He clarified that there
RSS