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Sun Smarts

Sven Bellamy
Features Editor

Do You Have Sun Smarts?

There is a television commercial depicting a
beach, and on the beach are neat rows of bronze-
tanned sunbathers with sun glistening off their
bodies. A chime breaks the stillness and in unison
the bodies on the beach roll over. A short pause,
another chime, and once again the bodies roll
over. The commercial in itself is cute, but are those
nicely tanned people protecting themselves
against the sun’s harmful rays?

According to an article in Women’s Health
Matters, skin cancer accounts for more than half of
all reported cancers. The Canadian Cancer
Association reports that one in seven people will
develop skin cancer over the course of their
lifetime, and statistical reports developed over
the past ten years indicate those numbers
may be conservative. In 1989 the number of
reported skin cancers was approximately 40,
000. A study from 2000 discloses that there
were 70,000 reported cases. This drastic
increase in numbers has led to large education
campaigns by the Cancer Associations across
North America, and massive advertising cam-
paigns by sunscreen manufacturers.

Types of Sunlight

Sunlight can be broken down into three basic
types of light: Visible light that allows us to see;
infra-red light that provides the warmth we feel;
and finally ultra-violet light, which causes dam-
age to animal cells. Ultra-violet light can be
classified as type A, type B, or type C.

Ultra-violet light type A (UVA) is not filtered
out by the atmosphere. It passes through glass
and light clothing and produces some tanning.

It used to be considered harmless, but more
recent studies indicate that long-term exposure
may cause damage to animal cells. The levels
of UVA remain constant throughout most days,
even on days that are overcast.

UVB is partly filtered out by the earth’s ozone
layer and outer atmosphere. It does not pass
through glass or light clothing. It is the part of
sunlight that is responsible for tanning, sunburn and
increased aging of skin. The intensity of UVB fluctu-
ates throughout the day, depending on cloud cover,
but is usually most intense around noon, tapering
off towards the evening.

UVC is the most intense short wave radiation
the earth receives. It is filtered out by the ozone
layer, and causes sunburn as well as skin cancer.

Life on earth as we know it could not survive if large
levels of UVC radiation reached the earth's surface.

Effects of Sunlight on Your Skin

Sunlight that reaches the skin is reflected,
dissipated, or absorbed by the top few layers of tis-
sue. Ultra-violet radiation that is absorbed by skin
cells, damages processes within those cells,
affecting normal cell activity and growth. Sunburn,
increased rate of skin aging, and skin cancers are
the end results of this cell damage.

Sunburn is the most common and immediately
visible effect of damage. The UV-rays absorbed by

 

Classification of Skin Types

 

 

Skin | Skin Reaction Following 45-60
Type} Minutes Exposure to Sunlight
I Always Burns, Never Tans (Fair,

Blonde, Blue/Green Eyes)

 

Burns Easily, Minimal Tan (Fair, Sandy-
Brown Hair, Green/Hazel Eyes)

II

 

Tans Moderately and Evenly (Medium
Skin Tone, Brown Hair and Eyes)

Il

 

Burns Minimally, Tans Well (Olive Skin
Tone, Brown/Black Hair and Eyes)

IV

 

Rarely Burns, Deep Tan (Dark Brown
Skin, Black Hair and Eyes)

V

 

 

Never Burns, Deeply Pigmented (Black
Skin Tones, Hair and Eyes)

VI

 

 

 

the skin become inflamed. Circulation is increased
causing redness, or in more extreme cases,
blistering. Beyond long-term exposure to sunlight,
there is significant medical evidence that damage
to skin caused by sunburn will lead to skin cancer
later on in life. One claim is that a sunburn
received as a child may have effects 25 years later
in life in the form of skin cancer.

Increased rate of skin aging, simply means that
skin that has been exposed to sun becomes less
elastic, developing rough patches, sun freckles or
blemishes. One condition, actinic keratoses, which

>>> FEATURES

is not skin cancer, but caused by years of
over-exposure to the sun, appears as red or rusty
scaly spots that may itch or sting. A skin condition
such as this indicates that there is an increased
risk of developing skin cancer.

Although sunlight is not the only cause of skin
cancer, exposure to sunlight increases the risk.
Results from studying patients have shown that
there are significant correlations between areas
of the body diagnosed, and areas of the body
that are usually more exposed to sunlight—skin
cancers are mostly found on the face, ears, lower
arms and legs of patients. Incidences are higher

among people sensitive to sunlight who live in
parts of the globe exposed to stronger sunlight
than similar people who live in parts of the world
that are less exposed to strong sunlight. There
have also been studies done on lab animals
that show ultra-violet light similar to sunlight
causes skin cancer.

Are You at Risk?

There are three main factors to consider
the level of risk. These are: genetics and family
history, exposure to chemicals, and exposure to
the sun.

Genetics provides the skin pigment you are
born with, reflected in the body’s natural ability
to tan (however, just because a person tans
well, does not mean they are immune to skin
cancer or the effects of over exposure to the
sun). For reasons that are not entirely clear,
people of Celtic decent are more susceptible
to the sun. There are also some genetic
conditions, such as albinism, which create a
higher level of sensitivity to sunlight. (Albinism is
not particular to any one ethnicity.) Family his-
tory plays a large role in any medical condition;

therefore, if your parents or grandparents have
been diagnosed with skin cancer, chances
are you are also at risk. People who fall into the
category of highest risk due to genetic heritage
are fair-skinned, blonde, having blue eyes and
freckles.

Exposure to chemicals may include the use
of some antibiotics, complexion medication or hor-
monal drugs (tetracyclines, sulfonamides, thiazide
diuretics, oral contraceptives). There are also
some naturally occurring chemicals present in
fruits and vegetables, which reduce the body's
resistance to the sun (these chemicals fall into a

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