Summer Break! Lots of fun in the sun! Sunshine, sun tans and sun burns! But did you know that that sunburn you get today could result in skin cancer 20 years or more from now? Much of course depends upon heredity, the environment you live in, altitude and other factors, but we should all be aware of the dangers of over exposure to the sun. Sunburn and ultra-violet light can damage your skin, and this damage can lead to skin cancer. The effect UV light has on your skin is dependent both upon the intensity and the duration of your exposure. How your skin reacts to the amount of exposure received is related to your genetic background. If there is a history of skin cancer in your family, you are probably at a higher risk. People with fair skin, with a northern European heritage, appear to be most susceptible. Tanning, our body's response to UV light, is an attempt to prevent further injury to our skin from the sun. Tanning, however, does not prevent skin cancer. Both the total amount of sun received over the years and immediate overexposure resulting in sunburn can cause skin cancer. Most people receive 80% of their lifetime exposure to the sun by 18 years of age and then increase that if they are college age sun-worshippers. It is estimated that 1 out of 7 people in the United States will develop some form of this cancer during their lifetime and one serious sunburn can increase that risk by as much as 50%! Even if you rarely sunburn, sensitive areas such as your lips, nose, and palms of the hands should be protected. The overall message here is PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN.
So, why are skin cancer rates higher then they were 50 years ago? Due to the reduction in the earth's atmosphere, (the "Ozone Hole") the level of UV light today is higher than it was 50 or 100 years ago. Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the amount of UV light that we are exposed to. With less atmospheric ozone, a higher level of UV light reaches the earth's surface. Elevation, latitude and cloud cover all play roles in skin cancer development. Ultra Violet light is stronger as elevation increases. The thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes cannot filter UV as effectively as it can at sea level. The rays of the sun are also strongest near the equator, as you might guess. But even in Antarctica, Chile, and New Zealand, the UV level is much higher than normal, especially in springtime, due to the Southern Hemisphere's ozone hole. One factor that actually reduces UV is cloud cover. Climates and microclimates with regular cloud cover may have a 50% lower level of UV light than those climates that do not. The density of the clouds affects the actual amount of penetrating UV.
Enough of that scientific gobbledygook, you say! You want to know just HOW you can prevent skin cancer and still enjoy the sun. The following six steps have been recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
• Minimize your exposure to the sun at midday and between the hours of 10:00AM and 3:00PM.
• Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF-15 or higher, to all areas of the body which are exposed to the sun.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.
• Wear clothing that covers your body and shades your face. (Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck.)
• Limit exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps and tanning parlors.
• Protect your children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (10:00AM and 3:00PM), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older. Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents with children under 6 months of age should severely limit their children's sun exposure.
• ALWAYS see your personal physician or dermatologist with any questions you may have about skin cancer, it's causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
• And there are many all-natural products available from fine health products stores that can help prevent sun damage and can sooth the effects of already damaged skin.
Jason Natural Cosmetics makes a water-resistant sun blocker called SunBrellas with a SPF-16 as well as children's water resistant SunBrellas with a SPF-46! Nature's Gate makes a non-greasy, fragrance-free sunblock lotion, called SportBlock, with a SPF-15 and 30. Aloe Vera juice is very soothing to sunburned skin and Vitamin E can be not only soothing but also beneficial to burnt skin. So get out there and catch some rays! Enjoy that sunshine! But do it wisely! |
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