Siloam Family Health Center: Medical Monday

UV Safety Month is a great time to spread the message of sun, fun and UV safety to your community. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of skin cancer. Don’t forget UV rays can also damage your eyes.

Facts About Sun Exposure

The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning, and other skin damage.

Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. Bec UVA rays make up the majority of our sun exposure. Beware of tanning beds because they use UVA rays as well as UVB rays. A UVA tan does not help protect the skin from further sun damage; it merely produces color and a false sense of protection from the sun.
UVB rays cause sunburns, cataracts (clouding of the eye lens), and effects on the immune system. They also contribute to skin cancer.
UVC rays are the most dangerous, but fortunately, these rays are blocked by the ozone layer and don't reach the earth.

TIPS:

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.

Check your skin regularly for any changes.

Applying sunscreen properly
When you apply your sunscreen, you should apply it on clean skin for the best protection and not over moisturizer or foundation. Apply sunscreen on your skin and let it soak in — this is the way to have the best protection.

We all need some sun exposure; it's our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn't take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and repeated unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and skin cancer.

Most kids rack up between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it's important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child's chance of developing skin cancer or vision damage.

African-Americans and people with dark skin have a natural SPF 16 UV protection, although dark skin blocks vitamin D3 production even more. So darker-skinned people require 10 to 20 times the sun exposure length (which equates to about two hours of exposure) than lighter-skinned people to build up the same amount of vitamin D. While dark skin does offer this SPF protection, it's not enough to protect the skin fully so African Americans and people with dark skin should still use sunscreens when they'll be in the sun for prolonged periods. ( Michael Roizen, M. D.)

EYE PROTECTION

Most are aware of the harm UV radiation can do to the skin, but many may not realize that exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes or that other components of solar radiation can also affect vision.

UV-A and UV-B radiation can have adverse long- and short-term effects on the eyes and vision. Don’t forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults. Wearing sunglasses can protect children from harmful UV exposure. Like a “sunburn of the eye”, photokeratitis may be painful and include symptoms such as red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. This is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.

Long-term exposure to UV radiation, however, can be more serious. Scientific studies and research have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years increases the chance of developing a cataract and may cause damage to the retina, a nerve-rich lining of the eye that is used for seeing. Additionally, chronic exposure to shorter wavelength visible light (i.e. blue and violet light) may also be harmful to the retina.

The longer the eyes are exposed to solar radiation, the greater the risk of developing later in life such conditions as cataracts or macular degeneration. Since it is not clear how much exposure to solar radiation will cause damage, the AOA recommends wearing quality sunglasses that offer UV protection and wearing a hat or cap with a wide brim whenever you spend time outdoors. Also, certain contact lenses can provide additional UV protection.

For more information visit these sites:

American Academy of Ophthalmology