DANGERS of SUN
Summer is close at hand, and I’m sure we are all looking forward to it. We are blessed with the sun
and long, happy days of swimming, sailing, and sunbathing. However, don’t forget that too much sun is
not only bad for you, but can also be deadly. Not nearly enough of us are heeding the health warnings.
When the sun is shining on the lovely beaches and cities, you need to protect yourselves while having
fun. Overexposure to the sun causes premature wrinkling, freckling, burning, cataracts, and increasing
skin cancer. The more time you spend in the sun over your lifetime, the greater your risk of developing
skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The National Cancer Institute
estimates more than 1,000,000 new cases of skin cancer in the United States in 2009. About 65-90% of
melanoma, the third most common type of skin cancer, is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight
exposure and research shows that most skin cancers can be prevented if people are protected from UV
light.
The UV radiation spectrum can be divided into three bands: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Sunlight is mostly
composed of UVA, which is believed to damage the connective tissue and has been found to increase
the risk of skin cancer. UVB is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, but still small portions of it reach the
earth’s surface. UVB penetrates superficially into the epidermis and is the principle cause of sunburn
reactions. Although considered the most toxic, UVC is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer and hardly
reaches the ground. UV radiation even passes through water. 80% of UV rays pass through clouds and
sand reflects sunlight and boosts the amount of UV radiation.
Although the sun’s rays are progressively more harmful, it is nearly impossible to resist lounging on
the beach or sundeck. Sunburns are bad, but a warm, glowing tan makes us look radiant, alive, and
natural. A tan, however, is our skin crying for us to get out of the sun. Tanning occurs when the sun’s
ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin’s inner layers. This injures cells and makes the skin produce more
melanin as a response to the injury. Melanin provides natural protection from sun damage. Everybody
has varying degrees of melanin; people with dark skin have more melanin than those with fair skin,
which is why they tan more easily.
Sunscreens provide varying degrees of protection from harmful rays. All SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
sunscreens filter out some UVB rays, but opt for broad-spectrum creams. These safeguard against both
UVA (wrinkle-causing) and UVB (sun burn and skin cancer-causing) rays and contain ingredients like
Parsol, Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. These ingredients block almost the entire spectrum of damaging
rays without exposing you to irritating chemicals.
Suncreens have been assigned Sun Protection Factor (SPF) values, which is a number that refers to
the sunscreen product’s ability to block UVB radiation. A sunscreen product with a SPF of 15 will protect
your skin 15 times longer from UVB than if you did not apply sunscreen. The exact amount of time will
vary from person to person, the altitude, and proximity to the equator. The efficacy of a product is
related not only to its SPF but also to its resistance to water immersion and sweating. The following
three labeling recommendations have been suggested to help clarify water/sweat protection
. Sweat-resistant: maintains SPF for at least 30 minutes of continuous heavy perspiration;
. Water-resistant: maintains SPF for at least 40 minutes of continuous water exposure; and
.Waterproof.: maintains SPF for at least 80 minutes of continuous water exposure.
Everyone needs sunscreen, even people with dark skin. Greater melanin lowers the risk of cancer, but
doesn’t eliminate it. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that a sunscreen with an SPF of at
least 15 be used year round if you are going to be out in the sun for longer than 20 minutes. Apply
sunscreen to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors. This allows the product to be absorbed.
Sunscreens do have a shelf life. Two years is usually the maximum but being stored in excessive heat
quickens expiration. So if you have forgotten it in the car or if the product’s texture has changed, buy a
new one.