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THE DANGERS OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Although the risk of developing melanoma cannot be eliminated it can be reduced by minimizing exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from tanning lamps, especially during childhood and adolescent years. Combined with monthly self-examination of the skin to detect early melanomas, the death rate from this tragic disease can be drastically reduced.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UV RADIATION

SOLAR RADIATION SPECTRUM

The sun emits several types of radiation, many of which reach the surface of the earth. The illustration above shows the types of solar radiation starting with infrared radiation on the right side of the chart. From right to left, the energy of the radiation increases. Warmth from the Sun is due to infrared radiation; visible light and colors are due to visible radiation. Neither infrared nor visible radiation is harmful under ordinary circumstances. Moving toward the high energy part of the spectrum, the next type is ultraviolet radiation, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, reach the Earth's surface from the Sun. Exposure of your skin to either type increases your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. UVC radiation and X-rays have even higher energies but they are absorbed by the atmosphere and never reach the surface.

UVB radiation causes sunburns.

UVA radiation doesn't burn but penetrates into the skin more deeply than UVB.

Skin damage from UV exposure is cumulative throughout your life and cannot be reversed.

One blistering sunburn under age 20 doubles your lifetime risk of melanoma.
Three or more blistering sunburns under age 20 multiplies your risk by five.

The intensity of UV radiation does not depend on temperature.
Winter exposure can be as damaging to your skin as Summer exposure.

Haze and clouds do not protect against UV exposure.

Reflection of UV radiation from light surfaces such as sand, concrete, snow, and water damages your skin.
Because of reflection from sand, beach umbrellas may provide as little as 50% protection from solar UV radiation.

Being in the water (or wet) does not prevent UV damage to your skin and may even magnify the damage.

Ordinary window glass blocks most UVB radiation but only 30% of UVA radiation.

Many common medications increase the sensitivity of skin to UV radiation.
Check the written information that accompanies all prescriptions and over the counter medications.

Sunlight reflected from nearby light surfaces like sand, water, and concrete
may cause harmful UVexposure even when you are in shade.

Options for Minimizing Solar UV Damage to Your Skin

Unless you are at high risk for skin cancer it isn't necessary to be fanatic about avoiding sun exposure.
Options for reducing overexposure (burning or tanning) are listed below. Using a combination
of options is generally more effective than relying on one alone.

Option 1: Minimizing Direct Exposure

- Avoid sudden exposure of normally covered skin to strong sunlight. Intermittent exposure
of normally covered skin to strong sunlight is a high risk factor for melanoma. Examples:

Winter indoors followed by heavy exposure during summer or while vacationing in a warm climate.

Indoor living during the week followed by heavy outdoor
exposure on weekends.

- Minimize exposure during the peak intensity hours of 10 am to 4 pm.

- Stay in the shade whenever possible.

- Until they are older than 6 months, protect infants from exposure of sun to their skin and eyes.

Option 2: Sunscreen

- Apply waterproof sunblock or sunscreen of SPF 45 or higher routinely when heading outdoors.

What You Need to Know About Sunscreens

"SPF," or Sun Protection Factor, is the time it would take for the first skin redness to occur with sunscreen divided by the time without sunscreen.

Example: If your skin normally begins to burn in 5 minutes without sunscreen,
a properly applied SPF 30 sunscreen will extend the time to 150 minutes (5 x 30).

SPF ratings of sunscreens are based only on UVB protection and, although most modern sunscreens also include UVA absorbing ingredients, there is no rating system that allows consumers to determine the degree of protection. The best UVA-protecting sunscreens contain micronized zinc oxide and micronized titanium oxide. These ingredients, unlike some organic additives, have the added benefit of not causing allergic reactions.

The SPF ratings of most sunscreens are meaningless unless the sunscreens are applied thickly.

Proper Application of Sunscreen

Most people apply much less sunscreen than what is needed for adequate protection. Teens and adults should apply an ounce (a shot glass full) of sunscreen per application for full body protection and, when spending a day at the beach or pool, should use a full 6 ounce bottle of sunscreen per day.

Apply extra sunscreen to the nose, under eyes, and tops of ears (or use a sunblock stick). These mid-face areas receive the greatest amount of exposure.

Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before it is needed and reapply it at least once every two hours while in the Sun. Reapply it after swimming, towel-drying, or when perspiring heavily. Even "waterproof" sunscreens wear off during perspiration and swimming.

Active ingredients in sunscreens deteriorate with age and temperature so avoid using sunscreen that is past the expiration date or that has been stored in a hot place for a long time.

Option 3: Sun Protective Clothing

Some clothing is less protective than you think. A typical T-shirt has a UPF (a rating system for clothing similar to SPF) of 5, not enough to prevent sun damage to your skin.

In hot weather, loose fitting tightly woven fabrics offer good protection. Alternatively, sun-protective clothing is available from several suppliers. RIT Sun Guard, a laundry additive, makes ordinary clothing such as T-shirts much more UV-protective and is claimed to last through 20 washing cycles.

A wide-brim hat will protect your face, ears, and neck.

Wrap-around UV-protective sunglasses will protect your eyes. Glasses labeled as UV-protecting do not not necessarily protect your eyes adequately or to the same extent. The darkness of the lens, color, or price is not an indicator of the degree of protection. Sunglasses that completely block both UVA and UVB will have one of three labels:

"UV 400"
"100% UV Protection"
"Meets ANSI UV Requirements"

THE DANGER OF INDOOR UV TANNING

The Indoor Tanning Association is lying to you and to tanning salon operators about the risks of UV tanning. They want you to believe that "responsible" indoor UV tanning is safe and even beneficial, that there is no compelling evidence that UV radiation from tanning beds causes melanoma and other skin cancers, that getting a base tan protects you from subsequent sunburn and that indoor UV tanning may even protect you from cancer by generating Vitamin D. The nonsense spouted by the 5 billion dollar per year UV tanning industry of today and the tobacco industry of 30 to 40 years ago is frighteningly similar.

Who says UV radiation from tanning lamps increases the risk of melanoma?

American Cancer Society
American Academy of Dermatology
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
National Institutes of Health
National Toxicology Program (NTP)
Skin Cancer Foundation
World Health Organization (WHO)

and many other organizations.

Facts About Indoor UV Tanning

The intensity of UVA radiation from tanning beds and tanning booths is 10 to 13 times greater than from the sun. UVB radiation from these sources is about the same intensity as from the sun.

A 2007 Australian study found an overall increased melanoma risk of 22-36 % among individuals who had ever used a tanning bed.

A 1994 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that Swedish tanning bed users under age 30 increased their risk of melanoma nearly 8 times by using UV tanning beds 10 times or more in a year.

Using tanning beds to reduce the risk of sunburn before going to a sunny climate is false logic. A tan provides protection equivalent to SPF 2-3 sunscreen, not enough to prevent sunburn.

Ultraviolet exposure is NOT required to provide adequate vitamin D. Supplements are just as effective for those whose diets are deficient in Vitamin D. The Vitamin D in supplements is exactly the same as natural Vitamin D generated in human skin exposed to sunlight.

"Why pay to get skin cancer indoors when you can get it free outdoors?"
- Doug Romano, Fitchburg, MA High School health educator

Sunless Tanning

If you want a tan, the only safe way is to use a sunless bronzer. Movie stars and models use them; they wouldn't be caught dead in the sun or in tanning beds. Sunless bronzers contain active ingredients that safely tan the dead outer layer of the skin without the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Modern bronzing products produce tans that are indistinguishable from the killer tans from sunlight and tanning beds. Spray booths are now available in many salons that make the process of getting a safe, natural looking tan quick and easy.

There are also many sunless bronzers available for self-application. The key to getting a natural looking tan without an orange color is to choose a product that is only slightly darker than your skin, pretest a sample 24 hours in advance on an inconspicuous area of skin, pre-clean your skin, and apply the product properly. The web site, www.sunless.com, has complete instructions for selecting the right product and applying it effectively. Most sunless bronzers do not contain sunscreen so be certain to use appropriate measures to prevent exposure.

Next Page (6a) Content

Sunscreen vs. sunblock: what is the difference?
Ingredients in sunscreens and sunblocks
More on Vitamin D

Page 6