Sun Safety

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Sun Safety

• Having fun in the sun while protecting yourself

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Sun Safety

• Overexposure to the suns ultraviolet (UV) rays
  threatens human health
• Children are highly susceptible to harmful UV
  radiation, since 80 of lifetime sun exposure
  occurs before the age of 18.
• Just one or two blistering sunburns in childhood
  may double the risk of developing melanoma.

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UV radiation has both positive and negative
effects

• Positive UV effects
• Warmth
• Light
• Photosynthesis in plants

• Vitamin D synthesis in body
• Mood elevation
• Kills pathogens

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UV radiation has both positive and negative
effects

• Negative UV effects
• Overexposure to UV radiation is the primary
  environmental risk factor for
• Diseases of the eye
• Immune suppression
• Skin cancers
• Photoaging

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Skin cancer facts

• According to the American Cancer Society, skin
  cancer is the most common of all cancers.
• One American dies every hour from skin cancer.
• One million new cases of basal cell and squamous
  cell carcinoma will have been detected this year.

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Skin cancer facts

• 42,000 new cases of malignant melanoma will have
  been diagnosed.
• Skin cancer will have claimed 9,200 lives, 7,300
  of these from melanoma and 1,900 from other skin
  cancers.

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Eye Damage from UV Radiation

• Increased risk of cataracts
• Burning of the eye surface, called snow
  blindness or photokeratitis
• UV damage to the eyes is cumulative

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Photoaging

• Chronic overexposure to the sun changes the
  texture and weakens the elastic properties of the
  skin.
• Leathery and wrinkled skin results.

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Photoaging

• Sun-induced damage causes wrinkles, furrows, easy
  bruising, brown or liver spots, precancerous
  lesions called actinic keratoses.
• Photoaging is also a cumulative process.

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Immune System Suppression

• Sunburns can alter the distribution and function
  of disease-fighting white blood cells in humans
  for up to 24 hours after exposure.
• Repeated exposure can cause more damage to the
  bodys immune system.

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Immune System Suppression

• Mild sunburns can directly suppress the immune
  functions of human skin where the sunburn
  occurred, even in people with dark skin.

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Effects of Exposure to UV Radiation

• Sunburn
• Tanning
• Prematurely aged skin (including wrinkles and
  loss of elasticity)
• Actinic keratosis
• Skin cancer(s)
• Cataracts
• Immune system suppression

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Skin Cancer Facts

• Since 1973, the rate of new melanomas diagnosed
  per year has doubled from 6 new cases per 100,000
  population to 12.
• Melanoma is the most common cancer for women ages
  25-29 and the second most common cancer for women
  age 30-34
• When melanoma is caught early, it is almost 100
  curable.

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Skin Cancer Facts

• Every year, more than 1,000,000 people get skin
  cancer.
• Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in
  his or her lifetime.
• One American develops skin cancer every 30
  seconds.
• Skin cancer kills one American every hour!

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Types of Skin Cancers

• Basal Cell Carcinoma ( 75 )
• Most common type
• Grows slowly and rarely spreads
• Appears as a pink or white pearly bump or an
  irritated patch that may bleed and crust over

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Basal Cell Carcinoma
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Types of Skin Cancers

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• More dangerous than basal cell
• Appears as pink bump or scaly patch with an open
  sore in the center.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
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Types of Skin Cancers

• Melanoma

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Melanoma
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Skin Cancer Facts

• There is now a 1-in-84 lifetime risk of
  developing melanoma in the U.S. population -- an
  1800 increase since 1930, according to research
  reported by Dr. Darrell S. Rigel of the New York
  University School of Medicine.
• Most of the sun damage that leads to melanoma
  occurs before age 18.

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UVA Vs. UVB Radiation

• UVB
• penetrates into epidermis - 90 is absorbed in
  the first 0.03 mm
• can be blocked by paper, opaque plastic, cloth
  and glass
• Thickens upper skin layer

• UVA
• Penetrates into dermis - 37 penetrates to 0.06
  mm
• Can be blocked by paper, opaque plastic, cloth
• Penetrates glass
• Increases melanin in skin

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Ultraviolet Radiation

• Two main types of UV radiation reach the earth,
  UVA and UVB.
• There are no safe UV rays.
• Tanning booths emit mainly UVA radiation, but
  also some UVB. Older tanning devices emitted
  UVB.
• While both UVA and UVB contribute to skin damage,
  UVA has links to malignant melanoma UVB more
  likely to cause burns.

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Ultraviolet Radiation

• UVB rays have shorter wavelength and burn outer
  layers of the skin.
• UVA rays have longer wavelength and penetrate
  deeper into the skin.
• Both types of radiation may cause skin cancers.

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Ultraviolet Radiation and Tanning Devices

• Emit 2 to 3 times the amount of UVA in natural
  sunlight
• An average 15 to 30 minute visit exposes a person
  to the same amount of UVA he/she would get in a
  day at the beach.
• At least 1,000,000 Americans (on average) visit
  tanning salons each day.

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Ultraviolet Radiation and Tanning Devices

• A new Swedish study concluded that the use of
  tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma.
  Chances of later development of melanoma
  increased by 300 in occasional tanning bed
  users. For those using tanning beds more than 10
  times per year, risk of melanoma increased by an
  astounding 800. The increased risk was greatest
  if subjects were under the age of 30.

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Ultraviolet Radiation and Tanning Devices

• The American Academy of Dermatology has flatly
  stated there are no known beneficial effects of
  tanning booths to health.
• As a corollary, the American Academy of
  Dermatology believes there is no such thing as a
  healthy tan.

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ACS says the risks associated with UV exposure
increases if you

• Have a family history of skin cancer
• Have freckles and burn before tanning
• Spend a lot of time outdoors
• Have fair skin or blonde, red, or light brown
  hair

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ACS says the risks associated with UV exposure
increases if you

• Were previously treated for skin cancer
• Live or vacation at high altitudes
• Have lots of moles, irregular moles, or large
  moles
• Have certain diseases, such as lupus
  erythematosus
• Take certain medications

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Limiting Exposure to UV Radiation (ACS)

• Limit direct sun exposure during midday (10 AM
  3 PM)
• Cover up
• Wear a hat
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15
  or higher
• Infants under six months of age should be kept
  out of direct sun and covered by protective
  clothing.

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Limiting Exposure to UV Radiation (ACS)

• Apply sunscreen/sunblock about 30 minutes before
  sun exposure and reapply frequently every 1 to
  1 ½ hours, even on cloudy days, more often if
  swimming or heavily perspiring
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays
• Be especially careful around water, snow and at
  high altitudes
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning booths

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Australias Slip, Slap, Slop Program

• Slip on a shirt
• Slap on a hat
• Slop on sunscreen
• Slip, Slap, Slop is a national program in
  Australia, equivalent in size, scope and
  importance to U.S.A.s cancer or anti-smoking
  campaigns.

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Barriers to Behavior Change

• Most people are aware of health risks, but want
  to tan anyway, either in the sun or a tanning
  salon -- or both. Why?
• Feel that it makes them look better.
• Feel that it makes them feel better.

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Barriers to Behavior Change

• Feel a tan protects them (from burns).
• Feel that a tan improves their self-esteem.
• Feel that a tan gives them a healthy
  appearance.
• Peer influence
• Media influence

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ABCD Rule for Early Detection of Melanoma

• A is for Asymmetry One-half of a mole or
  birthmark does not match the other.
• B is for Border The edges are irregular,
  ragged, notched, or blurred.

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ABCD Rule for Early Detection of Melanoma

• C is for Color The color is not the same all
  over, but may have differing shades of brown or
  black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or
  blue.
• D is for Diameter The area is larger than 6
  millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser)
  or is growing larger.