Skin Damaging Effects of the Sun
A sun-kissed complexion used to be considered a sign of health, but now we know that that golden tan is just a sign of sun damage to the skin. It may look great now but the damage that basking in the ultraviolet light has done to your skin will show later in life. While some effects of sun exposure, like freckles and wrinkles, might be harmless the various forms of skin cancer are definitely not. Not that the sun is completely to blame, the UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful.
Sun exposure causes:
- Freckles
- Benign tumors
- Elastosis – the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles.
- General skin discoloration
- Telangiectasias – the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin
- Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions, which are caused by loss of the skin’s immune function
There are three main types of skin cancer:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: The most common type of skin cancer and is rarely fatal and easily treated if caught early. It usually appears as a flat pink, red or brown lesion on the torso or limbs, or as a small, smooth pearl-like bump on the neck, ears or face.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type is also highly treatable if caught early on. It can appear as a scaly flat lesion that my bleed, crust over or itch, or it may be a firm reddish nodule on the skin.
- Melanoma – The most serious type of skin cancer. Although it only makes up about 5% of all skin cancers, it does cause roughly 75% of all skin cancer deaths. This type usually appears as pigmented bump that may resemble a normal mole or as an irregularly shaped patch. The signs to watch for when looking for a melanoma lesion are: asymmetry, blurred edges, uneven color (usually shades of black, brown, red, white or blue), and a significant change in size or diameter.
Prevention: As they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is very true when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet light. There are several ways to protect one’s self:
- Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of ant least 15 a half hour before sun exposure and every 2 hours thereafter
- Avoid direct sun exposure as much as you can during peak UV radiation hours between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p. m. Use lotions and make up with UV protection
- Remember UV radiation is just as harmful during overcast days and in the winter as it is when it’s sunny in the summer
- Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection to avoid possible cataracts later in life
- Wear wide brimmed hats to protect neck, ears and face (as funny as they may look)
- Consistently check your skin for irregularities or growths
A note about sunscreen
While sunscreens are improving many don’t protect skin from sun damage sufficiently. The FDA has set guidelines for UVB protection but not for UVA. The difference between the two is that UVB rays are associated with sunburn and skin cancer, while UVA rays are associated the deterioration of elastin and collagen that causes wrinkling and sagging of the skin. However, we now know that both UVA and UVB cause premature aging and cancer of the skin, so when looking for sunscreens, be sure to get one that has both UVA and UVB protection.
Mike Adams says tanning beds are good, and The Boku Folks say that tanning beds are deadly. Will the truth please stand up.
The below is a quote from the blog that this comment is directed to:
“A sun-kissed complexion used to be considered a sign of health, but now we know that that golden tan is just a sign of sun damage to the skin. It may look great now but the damage that basking in the ultraviolet light has done to your skin will show later in life. While some effects of sun exposure, like freckles and wrinkles, might be harmless the various forms of skin cancer are definitely not. Not that the sun is completely to blame, the UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful.”
The below is a Quote by Health Ranger Mike Adams in his NaturalNews Insider Alert (www.NaturalNews.com) email newsletter (July 28, 2009):
“I’m tracking multiple breaking news stories right now that you’ll see on NaturalNews soon. The FDA, for example, has just announced its “scientific” finding that mercury fillings are perfectly safe for your health! But the WHO, meanwhile, has announced that tanning beds cause cancer. It’s an amazing world when toxic heavy metals are declared “safe to chew on” while vitamin D enhancing tanning beds are declared deadly for human health…”
Do tanning beds help produce Vitamin D? Do tanning beds contribute to skin cancer? The answer to both of these is yes. Just like anything else in life the benefits/risks of tanning beds are not always black and white, and, just like anything else in life, moderation is key.
Tanning beds are actually used for several health conditions, Vitamin D deficiency being one of them others include psoriasis, eczema, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and acne. In these types of situations, the risks vs. the benefits are carefully weighed and the beds are used under medical supervision. While occasional tanning promotes production of Vitamin D in deficient individuals, beds need only be used by those in environments with very little sunlight. However, adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun (or other UV) exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and the vitamin simply degrades as fast as it is generated. This same amount of time may be enough to maintain a tan for the tan-enthusiast, depending on skin type, but many choose to expose their skin more often or for greater periods of time for cosmetic (not health) purposes.
There are other ways to increase your Vitamin D level if one is deficient. D2 can be obtained from mushrooms and algae and D3 from fish, eggs and beef liver. While tanning beds can help people with certain conditions it is not their primary use. The majority of people tan indoors only to darken their skin to their liking, and the risk generally far outweighs the possible benefits for these people.
Fantastic, I did not know about that until now. Thankz!