Don't let sunshine get under your skin
Tuesday June 06 2006
People have been relishing the revitalising warmth of the sun, despite a growing awareness of the harmful ultraviolet effects of its rays.
The facts show that over 30pc of all cancers in Ireland are skin-related. This means that 6,000 new people will be diagnosed with this condition this year alone. Skin cancer is the most common type of the disease in Ireland, it is also one of only two types of cancer that continues to increase rather than decrease. The main cause of skin cancer is repeated sunburn and over-exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun and fair skin, red-haired, blue-eyed people are at highest risk of over exposure.
The vast majority of new cases will be non-melanoma skin cancer of which 2,500 will be females and over 3,000 male.
On average each year, about 400 new cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma of the skin are diagnosed in Ireland each year, 255 in females, and 150 in males.
And every year over 60 people in Ireland die of malignant melanoma, of these about 32 are female and 28 are male.
To put it another way, someone dies of melanoma every week in Ireland and every hour in the US.
But it can be avoided. Here's how:
* Wear proper clothing: Clothing can be an excellent protection tool to shade our skin from both of the sun's radiations that reach the earth- UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can cause premature ageing of the skin and skin cancer, while UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer.
It is imperative to choose a sunscreen, which offers protection against both of these rays.
However, this can incur expense and we should not forget that clothing is a physical sunscreen that doesn't wash or wear off and has protection that can last all day.
* Use proper sunscreens: Sunscreen, when used correctly, is an effective means of sun protection.
It is estimated that consistent use of sunscreen in childhood and adolescence could reduce skin cancer incidence by 78pc. Sunscreen should be used to protect against normal sun exposure, not to prolong it. All sunscreens block UVB - the burning rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreens block UVB and some UVA - the aging rays that penetrate more deeply into the skin.
* Use proper SPF level: The SPF only tells you how much protection the product gives against UVB rays. A high SPF gives you more protection than a low SPF. If you can usually sit in the sun for 10 minutes without burning, regularly applying an SPF of 15 will theoretically allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer.
Currently, no standard exists to label UVA protection from a sunscreen. The star rating (1- 5 stars) or labels stating UVA protection as "low", "medium", "high" or "ultra-high" are the most common methods of indicating the level of UVA protection provided by a product.
* Always use proper sunglasses: We should remember that over-exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UV) can also cause cataracts and macular degeneration, both leading causes of blindness later in life.
Sunglasses can reduce the amount of UV to the eye by 80pc. Large lens that wrap around to the temples offer greater protection by shielding the eyes from the side.
All sunglasses should block some UV, but not all sunglasses block 100pc of UV.
* Remember to protect your baby: Emulsions such as Anthelios XL contain aluminum hydroxide and can be used with infants and with highly intolerant skin. There is a wide range of sunscreens available.
* Stay away from sunbeds and solariums: Excessive use of sunbeds can cause rapid ageing of the skin, long term damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
There is no such thing as a safe tan. Many people today use sunbeds to develop or maintain a tan, unaware that this is damaging their skin.
Persons with skin cancer or those with a family history of skin cancer should never use sunbeds or solariums.
Remember, babies should always be protected from the sun.
Dr Patrick Treacy is
Medical Director of
the Ailesbury Clinics
