Sun
Awareness
Sun
Awareness
It
is important to remember to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet
(UV) radiation in sunlight. It is well recognized that people do
not do enough to protect themselves from harmful UV.
UV
rays penetrate the skin and cause harmful short and long-term health
term problems. Too much sun causes sunburn and leads to a suntan
and freckles. A tan is the body's reaction to damage. Over time,
UV causes more permanent leathering, wrinkling, of the skin along
with liver spots. Eventually damaged skin will predisposed to developing
skin cancer.
Sunlight
is mostly made of UVA and UVB radiation. Classically it was believed
that UVB caused most of the problems but now it is recognized that
both UVA and UVB both cause sunburn, skin damage and
skin cancer.
Both
UVA and UVB are stronger in the summer months and particularly between
11 and 4 pm.
One
easy way to avoid a burn is to not go out in direct mid-day sun
without protection-“in cases where you shadow is shorter than you”.
It is also feared that with the ozone layer depleted more UV light
is hitting the earth, which will increase
rates of skin cancer
(which can take between 10-20 years to develop).
Sun
Blocks
It
is recommended to use a sun block of at least SPF 15 or more. The
SPF factor refers to the additional sun protection factor compared
with unprotected skin against UVB rays with the now recognized danger
from UVA radiation as well good sunscreen must contain protection
against UVA (unfortunately there is no number scale to measure protection
as with the SPF rating).
It
is important to apply sun blocks about 30 minutes before being exposed
to the skin. Using DEET or a combination of DEET and sun block makes
both works less effectively. We recommend applying the sun block
first so it binds well with the skin and then apply the DEET 30
minutes afterwards.
Children
Children
are at very high risk for sunburn especially since most of a persons
accumulated sun damage occurs when they are toddlers. Proper clothing
and instructions to avoid excessive exposure, and guidance by parents
can make a significant impact in children.
Doctors
use the ABCDE approach to educate people about looking for possible
skin cancer.
Asymmetry-an irregularity
in a mole is suspicious.
Border irregularity.
Colour is varied from one
part of the mole to another.
Diameter is larger than 6mm,
which is conveniently the same size as a pencil-top eraser for easy
comparison.
Evidence of change. Anyone
with a concern about a mole or pigmented spot should see their doctor.
Skin cancer is one thing that can be very easy to treat if we catch
it early enough. If it grows or has spread too far, it is much harder
to treat.
Suntanning
Studios
Salon
machines produce much more UVA than the sun. UVA is associated with
tanning, skin damage, and skin cancer.
Doctors
do not recommended tanning beds to get a base tan prior to trips
since the damage is still damage. In the USA and Canada, sun tan
salons are still legal and very lucrative businesses. As long as
people realize that tanning will cause premature skin aging and
can lead to cancer, they may artificially tan.
Reference:
Canadian
Dermatology Association
1-800-267-DERM
264
Tache Avenue
Winnipeg,
MB R2H 1Z9
Tel:
453-9107 Fax: 453-9115
Website:
www.skylarkmedicalclinic.com
Email:
gary_Podolsky@yahoo.com
Ó
Copywrite Skylark
Medical Clinic 2002
May
be copied for educational purposes.
THE SUN IS
HOT
SO
KEEP IT COOL!
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