CHENNAI: If you thought this weekend was going to be your coolest ever, with the Sunburn Festival that’s coming to town, here’s a reality check. It’s going to be ‘bloody hot’. In fact, despite the recent rainy spell weather reports have forecast a 40 degrees Celsius average through Saturday, which is when dance fever will take over at VGP Golden Beach Resort on ECR. And given that Asia’s largest EDM music fest will kick off there at a blazing 4 pm, City Express decided to do a round-up of precautions to take to prevent folks from actually getting ‘sunburnt’.
“You don’t have to have hyper sensitive skin to develop a rash or itchy skin,” according to dermatologist, Dr S Murugusundram of the Chennai Skin Foundation and Yesudian Research Institute. In fact, he emphasizes, “it could happen to anybody, sometimes in a period as brief as 10 minutes”. What really came as a surprise was when the doctor added that any form of light (LED lights included) can result in ‘polymorphous light eruption’. A light and tech expert in the city told CE that a basic 24x24 feet stage would require 35 powercans (ie 35 kV) to be lit up. Add to that laser graphics and elaborate fireworks and you’ve got yourself potentially enough illumination to fast track skin eruptions from head to toe!
“Although sunscreen is the simplest precaution, it’s quite a different matter when you’re dancing in the sun. The sunscreen will probably just wash off the skin with sweat,” the doctor points out. So definitely carry a hat and try wearing some light fabric with full sleeves, he suggests. As for dehydration, Dr Murugusundram says, “It’s not enough to drink plenty of water, add a little salt to your H20…it works as a catalyst to absorb the water into your cells.” Other quick hydrating drinks are lime juice, mosambi and tender coconut water. Also to prevent oxidative damage to the skin, he recommends you bite into a gooseberry – “the cheapest and quickest source of Vitamin C”!
The Sunburn party at VGP Golden Beach Resort is between 4 pm and 11 pm. For tickets, contact 9094733888.