The Sun – A Double-Edged Sword

Let’s face it, most of us really enjoy and appreciate that beautiful feeling of the sun deeply warming the skin, as well as its by-product of healthy glowing skin. Whether we are outside in the garden, playing sports in the open air, taking a leisurely walk, swimming or just outdoors enjoying the good things in life, sunshine is important to our physical and emotional health and wellbeing. For instance, the sun provides our bodies with the all-important vitamin D, which keeps our muscles, bones, teeth and immune system strong and healthy. Receiving sunlight on your body really assists those who are recovering from seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder. Sunlight is vital to us. Whilst we need the sun for all of its good, positive aspects, it also has a shadow side as well; it wields a ‘double-edged sword’ so to speak.  The sharp end of that sword is the after-effects from too much of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UV), as it is believed to be the main culprit behind the appearance of non-melanoma skin cancer. There are three types of ultraviolet radiation produced by the sun which penetrates our skin, namely UVA, UVB, and to a much lesser extent UVC rays. All three differ in their wave-length and depth to which they penetrate our skin. But out of all these, only the UVA and UVB rays have the most potential to be harmful to our skin, damaging the epidermis and the deeper layers.  It may be simply put this way, UVA rays can prematurely age us and weaken our immune system, and UVB rays can really burn us. Yet, if we become overly exposed to either of them, they can damage the skin and cause DNA damage, potentially leading to skin cancer. UVC rays are more powerfully damaging, but for the most part are shielded from us by the earth’s ozone layer.

What is skin cancer, and how do you get it?

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis or top layers of the skin. If the skin is unprotected, UV radiation can penetrate the skin and cause permanent damage to its cells, particularly causing DNA damage. When the damage is not adequately repaired, this can lead to the formation of a growth or malignant tumor. Sunburn is the major cause of skin cancer! It is caused by too much UVB radiation penetrating and damaging the upper layers of the skin. There is evidence suggesting early, intense sun exposure resulting in blistering to the skin during childhood, may contribute to non-melanoma type cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is interesting to note that many of these cancers are found on the chronically, sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the face, ears, hands and shoulders. Melanoma, on the other hand, has many causes, but is believed to result, in part, to brief and intense, blistering sunburn rather than years of tanning or burning, and can arise on any area of the body, not necessarily where sunburn has occurred. Sun bathing and tanning in the great outdoors is not the only way to be exposed to too much UV radiation, either. Marketers of sun beds and solariums have received some very damning criticism over the promotion of their use as being both safe and controlled. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) first classified the use of sun beds as a “Group 1 carcinogen’ back in 2009, citing evidence of people who use sun beds before the age of 35 having a 75% increased risk of malignant melanoma.

The Need to be Sun-Smart

It is very important to get a balanced attitude towards exposing our skin to the sun. We all have different skin pigmentations, from very fair to very dark, and this variable alters our susceptibility to the dangers of sun exposure and burning. People who have fair skin, red hair, existing moles on their skin, previous history of skin cancer or family history of skin cancer, should take a more cautionary approach to their sun exposure. Above all, it is very important not to get sunburned. Gentle sun exposure is fine for most people. You can further protect your skin from the damaging effects of sunburn and DNA damage by wearing a wide brimmed hat and protect your sensitive eyes from solar damage and cataracts by wearing sun protective eye glasses. Use a good quality sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) such as 15 and higher, and regularly re-apply every 30 minutes or so, to all of your exposed skin. Unfortunately sunscreens don’t provide complete protection from UV rays, so if you are among the people who are more susceptible to sunburn or other risk factors, you may need to wear dark, tightly woven clothing covering your arms, legs and torso. Your vehicle is not necessarily going to protect you from UVA radiation either. People who spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a car or truck, or regularly travel by bus or train may be more susceptible to UVA rays penetrating the glass windows. UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. Solar tinting may be a worthwhile investment for many long-haul drivers or regular car commuters.

Warning Signs to Watch Out For

Examine your skin from head to toe every month. Changes may go undetected if you don’t examine your whole body regularly. Use a mirror for difficult places to visualize or ask a loved one for some assistance with that. Look for any changes to your skin, for example:
  • Any skin growth which increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan brown, black or multicolored.
  • A mole or birthmark or beauty spot or brown spot which changes color, increases in size or thickness, changes texture, becomes irregular in outline or bigger than 6mm.
  • A spot which itches, hurts, crusts up or scabs, ulcerates or bleeds or fails to heal within 3 weeks.
If skin cancer is caught in its early stages, surgery may be prevented, and even cured. You should see your GP or dermatologist if you observe any changes in your skin. People who are within the high risk category should see their doctor on a regular basis for professional screening.   Taking a vitamin D supplement may be of assistance in keeping your blood vitamin D levels within the recommended level. REFERENCES: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/understanding-uva-and-uvb http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunburn/facts-about-sunburn-and-skin-cancer http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/07/27/sunbeds-cause-skin-cancer-the-evidence-is-clear/ http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/uva-radiation-a-danger-outdoors-and-indoors http://www.dermnetnz.org/procedures/self-skin-examination.html The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.