Don’t think that just because you can’t see the sun that you’re safe; sun damage can occur even on cloudy days. In fact, ultraviolet rays easily penetrate the atmosphere under any weather condition. Happily, a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows sunscreen may prevent skin aging and possibly help reverse it.
UV rays come in two basic variations- UVA and UVB. (Think UVA for aging and UVB for burning.) Wrinkles, sagging, leathering and discoloration are all UVR-related. Worse, each year more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed by the sun. And the damage is cumulative. Fortunately, the vast majority of skin cancers are basal cells carcinomas and squamous cells carcinomas. While malignant, meaning that they can invade and destroy nearby tissue, these are unlikely to metastasize, meaning to spread to other parts of the body.
Dr. Susan Stuart, a board-certified La Jolla dermatologist, contends that a tan is never safe, whether you acquire it on the beach or in a salon. “Although tanning salon operators may say their new bulbs are safe and that some UV exposure is necessary for vitamin D, neither statement is true.” In fact, people who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. Worst of all, even occasional sunbed use almost triples your chances of developing melanoma, the type of skin cancer that can metastasize.
According to the doctor, the new high-pressure sunlamps actually emit UVR doses as much as 12 times that of the sun. When unprotected skin is overexposed to UVR, DNA is damaged; a tan is the skin’s attempt to prevent further damage by creating a wall of darker pigment. And the damage that has already occurred can lead to changes (mutations) in skin cell DNA. “In general, it is far better to obtain vitamin D through D-rich foods, such as salmon, fortified milk or orange juice, and/or dietary supplements.”
So whenever you venture out in the sun, be smart about it by following Dr. Stuart’s seven simple rules:
- Seek the shade whenever possible, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Don’t burn. When you see your skin redden, take cover.
- Avoid tanning and UV booths.
- Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimming hat and UVR-blocking sunglasses.
- Be sure to protect your kids, too. Just one severe burn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life.
- After two hours in the sun, sunscreen loses effectiveness, so it’s vital to reapply. Furthermore, no sunscreen is completely waterproof, so if you’ve been swimming or exercising heavily, reapply immediately.
Finally, besides looking for sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum or UVA/UVB protection, make sure they have one or more UVA-filtering ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. And use them every day, in every kind of weather. Also, wear proper sunglasses.
