It’s 12:30 in the afternoon. You just finished a fabulous lunch and now you’re sitting by the pool. A cool drink by your side and a good book in your hand. The sky is blue, without a cloud to be seen. A few hours pass. Your skin has a pink glow and you think, “This is going to turn into a great tan.” While this glow means beauty to you, did you ever stop to think what it might mean to your skin?
Consider this. Your body has certain cells called melanocytes, whose job it is to produce a protective pigment called melanin when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays are found in the sun and in artificial tanning methods that use UV rays, such as tanning booths and sun lamps. Every time you expose your skin to UV radiation, your skin gets a little darker, producing a suntan. While you may think this is a good thing, a tan is actually the body’s attempt to protect the skin from the damage caused by the sun. This damage comes in the form of premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, sunspots and skin cancer. Even if you never burn, unprotected skin is at risk for developing skin cancer.
There are other risk factors as well. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) outlines the following as risk factors for skin cancer:
· Light skin color, eye color or hair color
· Family history of skin cancer
· Personal history of skin cancer
· Chronic exposure to the sun
· History of sunburns early in life
· Certain types and large number of moles
· Freckles, which indicate sun sensitivity and damage
Although these are risk factors for those found to be most susceptible to the sun, in no way does it eliminate people without these risks. Anyone can get skin cancer.
Being that exposure to UV rays seems to be the leading cause of skin cancer, this makes it a largely preventable disease. The CDC recommends the following guidelines for protection from the sun:
· Avoid artificial tanning methods that use UV radiation, either UVA or UVB.
· Seek shade. The sun’s most damaging rays are between 10 AM and 4 PM. During these hours try to stay in the shade of a tree, an umbrella or a tent awning.
· Cover up. In addition to wearing a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more, wearing a shirt, beach cover-up and long pants are good choices.
· Wear a hat. The head and neck are spots that often times get skin cancer. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat will help to protect the face, ears, scalp and neck. Sunscreen on the ears, balding areas of the scalp, neck and face should also be used.
· Wear sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays as possible. Not only does the sun damage skin, it damages eyes by causing cataracts. Don’t forget the eyelids when applying sunscreen to the face.
· Lather on the sunscreen. Most often when those that do wear sunscreen use it, they don’t use enough. Sunscreen should be applied liberally at least 30 minutes before going outside and should protect from both UVA and UVB rays, as well as contain an SPF of at least 15. It should be reapplied after swimming, heavy sweating or prolonged time in the sun. Don’t forget lip protection that contains an SPF of at least 15 as well.
According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. It is estimated that more than one million people will be diagnosed in 2002. Don’t let yourself become one of those numbers. Be sun smart. Wear sunscreen on a daily basis, not just when at the beach or the pool. Get extra protection by wearing long clothes, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and staying in the shade as much as possible.
So, while that tan you are working on may make you feel more beautiful or healthy, in reality it is working against you. The risks are high. Skin cancer is a deadly disease, but a preventable one. You make the choice.
For more information about sun safety and your own risks of developing skin cancer, talk to your physician or contact the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.