7 Dangers of Sun Exposure

7 Dangers of Sun Exposure Date Published: 15th May 2007 Copyright (c) 2007 Barry Lycka
Dr. Barry Lycka is one of North America's foremost authorities on cosmetic, skin cancer, reconstructive and laser surgery of the skin.

With the long, cold winter behind us, many people start shedding their clothes. But what people don't realize is that this is the wrong thing to do. Why? The sun poses many threats - above and beyond being burned.
1. Sunburn
It's important to understand how sun exposure can burn your skin. Wikipedia explains: "UV radiation is divided into the UVA, UVB and UVC sub-bands. Ozone in the Earth's atmosphere filters out a portion of this before it reaches the planet's surface. UVC is almost entirely eliminated by the atmosphere, but enough UVA and UVB penetrates it in large enough quantities that sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes. Nevertheless, the inflicted harm is often not immediately obvious." A first-degree sunburn can be painful and typically turns the skin pink or red. Severe sunburns, or second-degree burns, cause blistering and swelling of the skin, and will begin to peel three to eight days after exposure. Each blistering sunburn doubles the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
Here are some helpful tips on treating a sunburn: *Apply a moisturizer with aloe three times a day * Drink a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration * Take a cool (not cold) bath and apply cool compresses to help alleviate discomfort *Ibuprofen may reduce swelling, pain and discomfort * Products containing Acetaminophen may also help reduce pain and discomfort * An antibiotic cream may be applied to broken blisters to prevent possible infection * Ointments, Vaseline� and butter should not be applied to sunburns. These products are painful to remove and prevent heat from escaping the burned area.
2. Premature Aging
"Photoaging" is the term dermatologists use to describe the aging of the skin caused by exposure to the sun's rays. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, just a few minutes of sun exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin. "Photoaging occurs over a period of years. With more and more exposure to the sun, something very significant happens. The skin never forgets, just like an elephant. And with each insult, it loses its ability to repair itself, and damage accumulates. Scientific studies have shown that repeated ultraviolet (UV) exposure breaks down collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen. The sun also attacks our elastin. Sun-weakened skin ceases to spring back much earlier than skin protected from UV rays. Skin also becomes loose, wrinkled, and leathery much earlier with unprotected exposure to sunlight." This process will also multiply and increase the size of wrinkles.
3. Brown/Liver/Age Spots
Part of the photoaging process includes liver spots (which have nothing to do with the liver), or age spots. These dark spots usually have rounded edges and look like large freckles and tend to appear on people in their 40's and older. Age spots are not considered to be cancerous or pre-cancerous; although if you notice an age spot with uneven edges, consult your doctor for further examination.
4. Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses are small, rough or scaly spots. They tend to appear on the face, ears, back of the hands and arms of middle-aged or older people with fair skin. Although they usually do not cause any symptoms, approximately 10% of untreated lesions develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a nonmalignant form of skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 1 million new cases of highly curable basal and squamous cell cancers will be diagnosed this year.
5. Moles
Moles vary in size and can be pink, tan, brown or flesh-colored. They can be either flat or raised, round or oval, and rough or smooth. Some moles are present at birth, most appear by age 20, and new moles can still appear up to age 40. Be aware. Any mole that changes needs to be seen by a specialist in the skin. Why? It can indicate a skin cancer called a melanoma.
6. Eye Damage
With excessive sun exposure you may also be burning the cornea of your eyes. Eye surface burns usually disappear within a couple of days, but may lead to further complications later in life. Prolonged UV exposure may be linked to the development of eye conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. UV light is typically more intense at midday (10 AM to 2 PM), and is dangerous even when it's cloudy. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests wearing sunglasses that offer 99 to 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection. Reflected sunlight off water, snow and pavement can be the most dangerous type of UV light because it is intensified. If you spend time on the water or in the snow, wear goggles or sunglasses that wrap around your temples because they block the sun's rays from entering on the sides.
7. Skin Cancer
The most common or well-known damage that can happen to your body from excessive sun damage is skin cancer. Peter W. Welty, M.D., F.A.A.P., Dangers of Sun Exposure, explains how research has shown that a major factor in cancer formation may stem from early age exposure to the sun. "Some young children may be harmed more than adults by equivalent doses. Other cancers are associated with cumulative sun exposure, while another type is associated with short, intense, blistering sunburns. One thing is for certain - people who have fair skin and burn easily, with red or blond hair and blue or green eyes, are at a significantly greater risk than those with darker complexions." The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma is diagnosed in more than 60,000 people each year and causes several thousand deaths.
Early Protection Early protection from the sun can eliminate these future dangers. Mary Mills Barrow and John F. Barrow, Sun Protection for Life, suggest: "Select an appropriate sunscreen SPF based on your skin type and how long you anticipate being in the sun. In general, a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that is also labeled �broad-spectrum' or �UVA and UVB'-used with sun protection clothing, hats, and sunglasses- will give the maximum protection available when you are outdoors."







Avoiding the dangers of sun exposure Dr. David Fisher on sun safety and cancer protection 13/Jul/2009

There are consequences to unprotected sun exposure
Summer may have taken awhile to emerge in New England this year, but the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are as strong as ever. Although it’s tempting to run out and hit the beach without any coverage, there are consequences to unprotected sun exposure – one of the most significant being skin cancer. Dr. David Fisher, chief of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, offers advice on how to make this your safest summer yet.

When your skin is exposed to the sun, “there is a short-term cosmetic change with long-term photo damage,” says Fisher. Sun exposure accelerates the skin’s aging process, which contributes to an increase in wrinkles and moles. It also increases one’s risk of developing skin cancers.

While the best way to protect oneself from UV radiation is to stay out of the sun, Fisher describes a “middle ground” for those who want to be outdoors. This consists of avoiding peak hours (12 – 2 pm) and prolonged sun exposure, and being judicious about wearing a hat and covering the skin. Of course, sunscreen should be used – and the fairer the skin tone, the more vulnerable one is to burning.

“It’s important to apply sunscreen thoroughly and frequently, such as after swimming or sweating,” says Fisher. “If you must be outside during peak hours, apply every two hours or less.” He notes that many people forget to reapply, getting sidetracked by their outdoor activity or thinking that one coat was enough.

Cancer risk
Fisher stresses that sun protection factor (SPF) is not cancer protection factor or what he calls “CPF.” He says there is a clear lowered risk of certain types of skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, in those who use sunscreen. The magnitude of the protection provided by sunscreen for other types of skin cancers, such as melanoma, is still being studied.

“From what we know currently, sunscreen does not assure protection from skin cancer, though it’s excellent at preventing sun burning and certain forms of skin cancer,” says Fisher. “Therefore it’s certainly important to use it but to also remain cautious overall about sun exposure.”
Fisher warns that the risk for developing skin cancer even if you don’t burn is very real. He cites indoor tanning salons, where clients do not burn or else they wouldn’t remain in business, as an example. Large studies have shown a link between indoor tanning and the development of skin cancers. With this knowledge, people should remain cautious about sun exposure beyond avoiding sunburn. Fisher suggests taking a break from the sun to complement the protection provided by your sunscreen.
“Look for shade; shade is your best friend,” he says, adding that, “Hats are great. It shouldn’t be a straw hat with giant holes in it that will let sun in, and the same goes for clothing.”

Viable vitamin D

Some people argue that sun exposure is a good way to get vitamin D. Some even go so far as using tanning salons to get it. While Fisher confirms that vitamin D is “unequivocally a crucial element of the human body,” he argues that there are simple ways to get it aside from ultraviolet radiation, such as taking a daily vitamin D pill.

“There is an advantage to taking a pill rather than getting vitamin D through UV radiation and that advantage is that you know how much you have taken,” says Fisher. “If you go into the sun, you don’t know the strength of the UV radiation for that day, you don’t know how it penetrates your skin pigment – you don’t really know how much vitamin D your skin is producing. The only thing you can be confident of is that you’re increasing your risk for skin cancer”

Fisher says getting Vitamin D through a supplement is getting it “clean” whereas getting it through UV exposure is getting it “with a carcinogen.”

“The tanning industry has been distorting the message on UV and vitamin D to imply that there’s something unique about ultraviolet radiation as a “natural” means to get it, whereas the vitamin D you take in a vitamin pill achieves the identical medical benefits, to the best of our knowledge – but without the cancer-causing risk of radiation exposure.”

He says the best medically advisable way of being healthful with respect to vitamin D is to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level and if you are deficient, your doctor can easily recommend a daily supplement.

Learn more about the Dermatology Service and the Cancer Center at Mass General.