Archive for the ‘Facts & Information’ Category

Skin cancer is an epidemic in America.

Skin cancer is epidemic in America!  One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.  According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over a million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States each year, and there will be over 121,000 new cases of melanoma in 2010.  While basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin are seldom lethal,  melanoma kills one American every hour, 24/7, 365 days a year!

Fortunately, most skin cancers are readily cured.  Last century melanoma was called “the black death” because 50% died of the disease.  In 2010, the cure rate is 92% and climbing.  But give your dermatologist a chance to help you.  Do a monthly mole check all over your skin surface, get in for a free skin cancer screening if offered locally, or see your dermatologist once a year.  A black, changing, itching or bleeding mole requires prompt attention!  A pre cancer or a tiny skin cancer is much easier to cure than a big one, and your surgery site will be smaller and prettier the sooner you get in.  Check out the American Academy of Dermatology web site for further info. about skin cancer.

On the other hand, Thomas Jefferson told us it was OK for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you are an avid runner, biker, kayaker, swimmer, surfer, mountain climber or hiker, how can you have your cake and eat it too.  How can you spend all those hours outdoors without wrinkling, freckling, burning and suffering skin cancer?

Common sense sure will help.  Exercise before 10 A.M. or after 4 P.M.  Wear a hat with a brim.  Use a modern broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.  Water resistant or very water resistant ones are the best.  Helioplex, parsol 1789 (avobenzone) and Mexoryl are very good at blocking both UVB and UVA. Re-apply every hour, especially if you are swimming or sweating. Teach your kids and grand kids proper protection when outdoors. Wear a modern, high-tech fabric that keeps out UV rays.  An ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 to 50 incorporated into your hat or shirt is excellent, and it will keep you from burning. Also, remember to get a good pair of sunglasses–the sun zaps not only our skin, but also our eyes.

And just stay out of the tanning salon.  (Why would you pay to go to an aging machine?)  The World Health Organization recently found that tanning beds actually cause melanoma!

A theoretical risk of too much sun protection is vitamin D deficiency. To prevent it, take a supplement of 400 to 1000 international units daily.  Eat fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, drink milk and dairy, eat eggs, and choose cereal fortified with D. (My wife is a heart nurse, and she makes me eat fish and salmon several times a week. ( It is a good habit for a healthy heart.)  I must admit, actual vitamin D deficiency is rare to uncommon in the U. S., compared to epidemic skin cancer.

As a dermatologist, I want you to do any outdoor activity you want to do.  (Running naked at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on New Year’s Day?–well, no, but almost any activity.)  By following the above tips, you will have safe, fun in the sun.

Best regards,
Dr. Douglas N. Naversen

Medford, Oregon

Surfaces such as snow can magnify the sun's UV rays.

Many people tend to forget about sun protection during each years’ cold winter months, and do not apply sunscreen or use any other form of sun protection. UV risk is lower during winter months because more clothing is worn and less skin is exposed. However, winter sun protection is still quite important. Cold winter weather does not affect the strength of ultraviolet rays but does dry out, chap, and in some cases cause skin to peel.  All of which makes skin more sensitive.   Up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate through clouds and in some cases can even magnify UV rays. UV rays also reflect incredibly well off of surfaces like snow, asphalt, sand, and water which will only magnify sun exposure.

When spending time outside we recommend that you take precautions for your exposed skin.  Wear sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or higher and reapply often (winter weather will dry it out and strip it from your skin). Wear a hat with a wide brim that shades your entire head, including your ears and neck too. Also, don’t forget about UV protective sunglasses especially to protect against reflected UV. Take note of the UV index scale. If UV levels are high, very high, or extreme minimize the amount of time you spend outdoors between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The best way to tell if your sun exposure is too high is to look at your shadow — if it’s shorter than you, as it usually is during the midday, find some shade.

Finally, don’t forget about your lips! Just like sunscreen, your lip balm should be SPF 15 or higher. You’ll need to reapply lip balm periodically throughout the day.

Many people also either live in or relocate to warmer climates during the winter months in which case they will need to practice normal summer sun protective precautions.

Blue Lizard Sunscreen

As all of you are well aware, there are hundreds of different sunscreens and
sunblocks out there.  So how do you make a smart choice about which sunscreen
or sunblock is right for you?  Well hopefully we can help you figure that
out.

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen: While many people use “sunscreen” and “sunblock”
interchangeably, there’s a difference. Sunscreen contains chemicals that
absorb UV rays before they damage the skin. Sunblock contains particles that
act as a physical wall against UV rays. Sunscreen must be applied 15
minutes prior to sun exposure while sunblock begins working immediately.
Dermatologists say experiment with what works best with your skin and plan
accordingly.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor: The SPF rating is calculated by
comparing the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin
to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. If your skin would normally burn in 10 minutes without
sunscreen, applying SPF 15 sunscreen means you could potentially
be outside 15 times longer, or 150 minutes (2.5 hours) without getting a sunburn. This system was developed in a lab. It does not account for
the amount of sunscreen that does not soak into the skin or the amount that
is rubbed off due to clothing, sweating, swimming etc. It also does not take
into account time of day, geographic location or weather conditions, all of
which can increase the sun’s intensity.  Therefore it is recommended to wear
sunscreen or sunblock with an SPF of 30+, reapply every two hours, and be
aware of how sweat or water resistant your sunscreen is.

Ultraviolet Light: There are two different types of ultraviolet light that
can harm your skin, UVB and UVA. UVB rays cause sunburn, skin dryness,
peeling, pigmentation spots, premature aging, and some types of skin cancer.
UVA rays are related to premature aging, some types of skin cancers, and eye
damage (macular degeneration and cataracts). When choosing a sunscreen make
sure that the label says broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) coverage to insure
that you are protected from both types of light. Typically most sunscreens
protect well against UVB rays however some tend to lack UVA
protection. A good broad-spectrum sunscreen should contain avobenzone,
ecamsule (Mexoryl), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for significant UVA
protection.

The use of stick, gel, cream, or spray sunscreens are all just a matter of
personal preference. Experiment with several different types to see what
works best for you. “Water-resistant” sunscreens should last for at least 40
minutes in water while “waterproof” should protect the skin for 80 minutes
in water.

Lets review.  When choosing a sunscreen or sunblock make sure it is at least
SPF 30+, is broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) coverage, and covers your personal
needs whether it is oil free, waterproof, gel, cream, spray, etc.

For other great articles about sunscreens visit
here or here.

We currently carry several great sunscreens at our online store by Blue
Lizard, Kinesys, and Hincapie. Check them out here at:
here.

Have questions? Contact us at: journal@sundayafternoons.com