Sun of the Beach-Beware those Ultraviolet Rays!

By David A. Johnson MD, Medical Director, Signature Care

Monday, July 3th, 2006; Posted: 10:00 a.m.

As we enjoy the beautiful summertime weather, we need to keep in mind several issues about the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. We need sunshine. It helps with our body’s production of Vitamin D and has been tied to issues of depression in some people who don’t get enough. However, overexposure to the sun can lead to a variety of health risks. You may be surprised about some of the specific dangers of sun exposure and how you can protect yourself.

First, a little lesson on UV light. There are two main types, UVA and UVB. UVB is what gives you your sunburn and is responsible for some types of skin cancers. UVA rays are the ones that can make the skin leathery and wrinkly in appearance and these also can contribute to certain skin cancers. (An easy way to remember: "A" is for aging and "B" is for burning). Both types are harmful to you in different ways.

Most people are aware that spending excessive time in the sun will damage your skin, but lets clear up some misinformation about protecting our skin from the sun’s rays. Let’s talk sunscreens. It is widely recommended that people use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15-30. An SPF of 30 can block up to 97% of the harmful UV rays. Going higher than 30 on SPF hasn’t shown to make a positive difference. Using sunscreen can reduce your chances of burning but it is not going to allow you to spend unlimited time outdoors without risk of skin damage. And it needs to be reapplied every 60-90 minutes, sooner if you’re in the water. (This is true even if you use "waterproof" sunscreen, as it is not truly waterproof). While sunscreen can prolong your time-to-burn in the sun, it is not clear if it protects against the aging effects of the sun.

Another huge misconception is that wearing clothing alone is good protection from UV rays. You can get a sunburn through your clothes! For example, a white t-shirt gives only the same protection as a sunscreen with an SPF of 5. And it’s even less effective if it is wet. So wear sunscreen even under your clothes. Now there are clothes made with SPF protection as well as SPF detergents that you can wash your clothes in to improve your exposure. Please also remember that we are exposed to the sun’s UV rays even on cloudy days.

In addition to sunscreen and clothing, a hat and sunglasses are strongly recommended. This not only protects the delicate skin of the face, but also protects the other part of the body that is most easily damaged by the sun-the eyes. Eye structures such as the cornea, retina, and lens are damaged from UV radiation, so protecting your eyes is vital. Wear sunglasses that say "100% UV protection" and try to get sunglasses that cover as much of your eyes as possible-even the sides.

In summary, the only true way to cut out your risk of UV exposure is to stay out of the sun and off of tanning beds. (Yes, tanning beds use UV light, mostly UVA). However, if you are going to be outdoors, follow these guidelines:

• Wear sunscreen that is broad spectrum (protecting against both UVA & UVB rays) with an SPF of 15-30. Apply it about 30 minutes prior to going into the sun so as to let the sunscreen absorb into the skin. Reapply every 60-90 minutes-sooner if you get wet or sweaty. Remember that "waterproof" sunscreen is only water-resistant, not waterproof.
• Keep in mind that clothing by itself is a poor protector from the suns rays-particularly if the clothing is wet. Wear sunscreen under clothing.
• Wear a hat to protect the head and eyes.
• Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UVA & UVB light. Wrap-around glasses are preferable to block light coming in from the side.
• Remember that UV rays reflect off of the sand, water, & snow.
• UV light from the sun is strongest between 10am & 4pm.
• Tanning beds use UVA light which ages and wrinkles the skin just as the sun does.
• If looking tan is your goal, consider going with a "fake tan". Products that use DHA (dihydroxyacetone) are considered safe and effective.

Enjoy the summer, have fun and be active! Remember to be smart and make the effort to protect yourself from the damage of UV radiation. Knowing and following the above information can keep you healthier and avoid acceleration of the aging process. Here’s to your health!

 

For more information, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the sponsor of UV Safety Month.