Before you head outdoors for some fun in the sun, take this quiz to test your knowledge of sun safety.
What causes sunburn?
How long can I stay in the sun?
True or False: Sunlight causes skin cancer.
How does sunscreen work?
How do I choose which sunscreen is best for me (and my family)?
The answers to these questions are very important to know for keeping your family healthy and safe. Read-on to learn these and other important facts about sunlight and skin health.
The last several decades has seen a rise in cases of skin cancer; particularly melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It is important to note that there are 3 general categories of melanoma. Only cutaneous melanoma affects the skin; mucosal and ocular types of melanoma occur places that sunshine does not reach. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the other most common forms of skin cancer.
Of these 3 types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma is the most common. It develops in the lower part (basal cell layer) of the first layer of skin, called the epidermis. Basal cell carcinoma is slow growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the squamous cell layer of the epidermis. Since this layer is much closer to the outer surface of the skin, it is shed often. However, squamous cell carcinoma is more likely to spread to other parts of the body than basal cell carcinoma.
Melanoma forms from the melanocyte cells that make melanin. Melanin is what colors your skin tan or brown; it is also responsible for the coloration of moles. Melanomas are less common than basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, but are more likely to spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
Sunlight is made up of visible and invisible light. It is the invisible light, the UVA and UVB rays that cause sunburn. UVB rays are strong enough to cause sunburn during the middle part of the day and only when clouds are thin. UVA rays are strong enough most of the day and during cloudy conditions to cause sunburn. UVA penetrates the skin to a deeper level than UVB, and has a higher likelihood for causing skin damage, premature aging of skin, and cancer. When UVB rays penetrate the skin, a complicated process begins of converting the already present provitamin D₃ into vitamin D₃.
Interestingly, there is another part of the invisible light, called UVC. UVC rays kill germs. That’s right, there is a part of sunlight that is germicidal!
You probably already know that everyone’s tolerance for staying in the sun without getting burned is different. The most basic factor for how long a person can stay in the sun, without getting burned, is the darkness of their skin. Fair skinned people have less melanin than darker skinned people. And when your skin tans, the melanin in your skin increases. The darker your skin, the longer it takes for your skin to burn. It is the UVA rays that are responsible for creating the deep, long lasting tan. Some medications and herbs affect the skin’s tolerance for sun, and can cause the skin to burn quickly.
Phototherapy, also called light therapy, is used by doctors to treat several conditions. Most notably, stubborn cases of psoriasis are treated with UVB rays and sometimes also UVA rays. Psoriasis is caused by an overreaction of the immune system, which causes an overproduction of skin cells, T cells, and white blood cells. Skin cells die and are replaced at an increased rate causing flaking skin, and increased blood flow to those areas makes the skin feel itchy and inflamed. In essence, the body is mistakenly attacking healthy skin cells. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder which is why it is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis (also an autoimmune disorder).
Phototherapy works by causing the activated T cells in the skin to die. Once T cell activity reduces, skin cells begin to live longer thereby reducing inflammation and flaky skin.
Looking at the big picture we can see that sunlight on bare skin has an important role in maintaining good health. The ultraviolet rays, UVA, UVB, and UVC all are present in sunlight. Remember, with UVB rays, your skin will start making vitamin D₃. Also remember, without D₃, your body will not be able to produce hormones which are crucial for life; vitamin D₃ has also been clinically proven to reduce the risk of several types of cancer, including skin cancer. The UVC rays are a powerful germicide which supports your immune system by limiting the germs present on your skin. Since UVA rays penetrate the skin deeper than UVB, they affect cells on a deeper level.
UVB rays seem to be the key to regulating how much sun unprotected skin should receive on a regular/daily basis. Before your skin turns pink, your body has received enough UV rays to produce adequate vitamin D₃ and kill germs that may be present. The UVA rays will activate melanin in your skin, causing you to tan; this occurs over time and is designed to protect your skin. However, overexposure will damage your skin cells and cause your skin to become inflamed and painful (classic sunburn).
Once skin cells become damaged, they are at risk for mutating and becoming cancerous. The risk for developing skin cancer increases each time skin gets sunburned. The risk is even greater when sunburned as a child. That is why it is important to protect children from over exposure to the sun, since getting sunburned when they are young raises the odds for skin cancer later on in life.
Sunscreen works by covering the skin with a protective layer that the UV rays cannot penetrate. Clothing that covers exposed skin and staying in the shade are both effective ways of preventing sunburn. If you have to be in the sun, you must protect your skin from burning so sunscreen is a good option. The problem is, there are so many products available that it is hard to know which one to choose. Unfortunately, many sunscreens have become formulated to the point of which they contain toxic chemicals.
Some of those toxic chemicals are OMC (Octyl methoxycinnamate), Avobenzone, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, Octinoxatre, Phenylbenzimidazole, and Trolamine salicylate. These are all known to disrupt normal hormone function and are suspected of increasing your risk for developing cancer. Products that contain vitamin A, retinol, or retinyl palmitate increase your risk for developing skin cancer because they are considered photocarcinogenic. Skincare products that contain vitamin A or its derivatives warn to stay out of the sun while using that product for that very reason.
The best sunscreens to protect not only your skin, but also your overall health are the ones that are mineral based. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are very effective at providing complete protection from the harmful UV rays, and are much healthier for both your skin and your entire body. The key is to choose products that contain one or both of them without other chemicals present in the product. Many are made with coconut oil, sunflower oil, and other natural ingredients that are actually very good for your skin and safe even for infants.
It may sound hard to find a “healthy” sunscreen, but there are a growing number of products available. As of today, you won’t likely find any of them on your grocery store isles, but health food stores are a good place to begin your search. You will find the biggest selection available online.
The bottom line is this: Everyone needs a regular dose of vitamin D. The very best way to get it is to allow midday sun to touch your bare unprotected skin; but only up to the point to where your turns the slightest shade of pink. That’s the UVA rays telling YOU that you have gotten the right amount of UVB rays (the length of time is different for everyone). The vitamin D that your body will make from the UVB rays will actually help your body to kill any abnormal cells (not just abnormal skin cells), thereby decreasing your risk for developing cancer. The UVB and UVC rays help to keep skin conditions like psoriasis in check and allow healthy skin to flourish. When your skin burns, skin cells are damaged and the risk for skin cancer increases.
If you are taking medications that increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, or simply advised by your doctor to avoid all contact with the sun, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to run a blood test to check your level of vitamin D. While the sun provides the most bioavailable source of vitamin D3, you can also get this vital nutrient from food and by taking a supplement.
In my next newsletter, I am going to discuss some of the mineral based sunscreens that currently on the market to help you find the products that will give you and your family the proper protection from the sun. I intended to include information on natural sunscreens in this newsletter, but I had too much to say about sun safety to make it all fit.
References
Phototherapy:UVB. (n.d.). Retrieved from American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: www.aocd.org/?page=PhototherapyUVB
Skin Cancer: Basal and Squamous Cell. (2015, April 03). Retrieved from American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-basalandsquamouscell/detailedguide/skin-cancer-basal-and-squamous-cell-what-is-basal-and-squamous-cell
Staff, H. (2013, June 11). Light Therapy. Retrieved from WebMD: www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/light-therapy
Staff, M. C. (2013, March 20). Light Therapy. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/light-therapy/basics/definition/prc-20009617
Staff, M. C. (2014, April 11). Psoriasis. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/basics/definition/con-20030838
What is Melanoma? (n.d.). Retrieved from Melanoma Research Foundation: www.melanoma.org/understand-melanoma/what-is-melanoma
