Transcript SUN SAFETY - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

SUN SAFETY
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Central District Office
What is skin cancer?
 Skin
cancer is a disease in which cancer
(malignant) cells are found in the outer layers of
your skin.
Skin Cancer
 This
year more than one million Americans will
develop one of the three most common forms of
skin cancer.
 Over 90 percent of these cancers will appear on
sun-exposed skin, usually on the face, neck, ears,
forearms, and hands.
 Every hour an American dies from skin cancer.
What causes skin cancer?
 Sunburn
and Sunlight
 Heredity
 Environment
How it happens
 Overexposure
to ultraviolet UVA and UVB rays
ravages skin cells. The top layer, or epidermis, is
the most vulnerable. Too much sun prompts
visible damage (like sunburn or tanning) as well
as invisible, cellular-level damage that adds up
over the years.
Layers of Skin
 Epidermis
 Dermis
 Subcutis
Epidermis
 Top
layer of skin.
 Contains three kinds of cells:
flat, scaly cells on the surface called squamous
cells;
round cells called basal cells; and
cells called melanocytes, which give your skin
its color.
Dermis
 The
middle layer of skin.
 Contains blood vessels, nerves, and sweat
glands.
 The hair on your skin grows from tiny pockets in
the dermis, called follicles.
 The dermis makes sweat, which helps to cool
your body, and oils that keep your skin from
drying out.
Subcutis
 The
 The
deepest layer of skin.
subcutis keeps in heat and has a shockabsorbing effect that helps protect the body's
organs from injury.
Three Most Common Forms of Skin Cancer
 Basal
Cell Carcinoma
 Squamous Cell Carcinoma
 Malignant Melanoma
Basal Cell Cancer - What is it?
 Most
common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
 Affects
 Onset
the skin’s basal layer, or 5th layer of skin.
most commonly occurs after the age of 40;
however, an increasing number of younger adults
are developing this from of cancer.
Basal Cell Cancer - What causes it?
 Skin
damage from the sun that has occurred
over many years.
Basal Cell Cancer - What does it look like?
 Often
appears as a small raised bump
that has a smooth, pearly appearance.
 Another
type looks like a scar and is
firm to the touch.
 It
could also be a small lesion or sore
that does not heal and has other
specific characteristics.
Basal Cell Cancer - Where does it usually
occur?
 On
areas of your skin that have been in the sun,
including the face, scalp, ears, lips or around
your mouth.
 May
spread to tissues around the cancer, but
usually does not spread to other parts of the
body.
Basal Cell - Is it curable?
 Early
treatment results in a cure rate of more
than 95%. However, new growths can occur.
Stay vigilant!
Squamous Cell Cancer - What is it?
 A malignant
growth of the epithelial layer of the
skin, or the external surface.
Squamous Cell Cancer - What causes it?
 Overexposure
to x-rays
 Excessive exposure to the sun
Squamous Cell Cancer - What does it look
like?
 Often
appears as a firm red
bump.
 Sometimes the tumor may
feel scaly or bleed or develop
a crust.
Squamous Cell Cancer - Where does it
usually occur?
 Occur
on areas of your skin that have been in
the sun, often on the tip of the nose, forehead,
lower lip, and hands.
 May also appear on areas of your skin that have
been burned, exposed to chemicals, or had x-ray
therapy.
 Squamous cell tumors may spread to other parts
of the body if not treated.
Squamous Cell Cancer - Is it curable?
 Yes,
early treatment results in a cure rate of more
than 95%.
 As with basal cell, new growths can occur. Stay
vigilant!
Melanoma - What is it?

Type of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes,
the cells that give your skin color.

Not as common as basal cell or squamous cell
skin cancer, but much more serious.

Nearly 48,000 Americans will develop it this year.

Accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases, but
causes about 79% of skin cancer deaths.
Melanoma - What are the risk factors?
 Moles
 Fair
Complexion
 Family
History
 Immune
 Too
 Age
Suppression
much UV radiation exposure
Melanoma - What does it look like?
 Melanoma
usually begins as a
dark brown or black patch with
irregular borders and is
characterized by the uncontrolled
growth of pigment-producing
tanning cells.
Melanoma - Where does it usually occur?

It may appear anywhere on the body without warning or start near a
mole.

Men most often get melanoma on the trunk (the area between the
shoulders and hips).

Women most often get melanoma on the arms and legs.

It has a tendency to spread, making it essential to treat it right away.

Since melanoma is often linked to a change in one of your moles
(most of us have 100 or so), you should inspect them regularly and
look for any changes in their size and color, such as the appearance
of a bump or the spreading of pigment around the border.
Identifying Melanoma
 The
Skin Cancer Foundation
and the American Academy of
Dermatology recommend using
the ABCD method (see photos)
to help detect melanoma.
Asymmetrical
 Most
early melanomas are asymmetrical.
Borders
 Borders
of melanomas are uneven.
Color
 color;
varied shades of brown, tan, or
black are often the first sign of melanoma.
Diameter
 Diameter;
early melanomas tend to grow
larger than common moles.
Skin Signs and Changes to Watch For
 Size
Sudden or continuous growth especially if it is
bigger than a pencil eraser.
 Shape
Irregular borders (not symmetrical).
Skin Signs and Changes to Watch For
 Color
A mole that darkens or develops a dark spot in its
center.
Pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, pink or
multi-colored.
Skin Signs and Changes to Watch For
 Elevation
Sudden elevation of a flat freckle
 Surface Characteristics
Bleeding, itching, oozing, hurting, crusting, and/or
scabbing.
Skin Signs and Changes to Watch For
 Surrounding
Skin
Redness, swelling, or spots of color, especially
near a mole.
 Consistency
Any softening, hardening, or crumbling of skin.
Skin Signs and Changes to Watch For
 Sensation
Itching,
tenderness, or pain.
Open sore that lasts for more then 4 weeks,
heals and then reopens.
Scaly or crusty bump that is dry and rough, and
that may produce a prickling or tender sensation.
How can I determine my personal risk?
 One
serious sunburn can increase the risk by as
much as 50%.
 The effect of UV light has on your skin is dependent
on:
the intensity and the duration of your exposure
your genetic background
 http://www.aad.org/skinrisk.html
Are there precautions that will reduce my
risk?
Yes! Six steps recommended by the American
Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer
Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn
and skin cancer.
Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk
 Minimize
your exposure to the sun at midday and
between the hours of 10:00AM and 3:00PM.
 Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF-15 or higher, to
all areas of the body which are exposed to the sun.
 Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy
days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.
Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk
 Wear
clothing that covers your body and shades
your face. (Hats should provide shade for both the
face and back of the neck.)
 Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or
tanning parlors.
Six Steps to Reduce Your Risk

Protect your children. Keep them from excessive sun
exposure when the sun is strongest (10:00AM and
3:00PM), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently
to children 6 months of age and older. Do not use
sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents
with children under 6 months of age should severely
limit their children's sun exposure. Most people
receive 80% of their exposure to the sun by age 18.
Should everyone use sunscreen?
 Yes!
Even if you rarely sunburn, sensitive areas
such as your lips, nose, and palms of the hands
should be protected.
 The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
recognize six skin categories: Skin Type (I-VI)
Skin Type I
 Sun
History: Always burns easily, never tans,
extremely sun sensitive skin
 Example: Red-headed, freckles,
Irish/Scots/Welsh
Skin Type II
 Sun
History: Always burns easily, tans minimally,
very sun sensitive skin
 Example: Fair-skinned, fair-haired, blue-eyed,
Caucasians
Skin Type III
 Sun
History: Sometimes burns, tans gradually to
light brown, sun sensitive skin
 Example: Average skin
Skin Type IV
 Sun
History: Burns minimally, always tans to
moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive
 Example: Mediterranean-type Caucasians
Skin Type V
 Sun
History: Rarely burns, tans well, sun
insensitive skin
 Example: Middle Eastern, some Hispanics,
some African-Americans
Skin Type VI
 Sun
History: Never burns, deeply pigmented, sun
insensitive skin
 Example: African-Americans
Note:
The AAD suggests that regardless of skin type
a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 should
be used year-round.
When should a sunscreen be used?
 Every
day if you are going to be in the sun for
more than 20 minutes.
 When on or around reflective surfaces such as
water and snow. Snow can reflect up to 80% of
the suns rays!
 On cloudy days too!
How do I choose a sunscreen?
 Choose
a sunscreen that has an appropriate sun
protection factor (SPF).
 Consider allergic reactions. Some people are
sensitive to PABA (para-aminobenoic acid) and
its esters.
 Sunscreens come in ointments, creams, gels,
lotions, oils and wax sticks.
What is an SPF?
 Sun
Protection Factor
 Typically range from 2 to 60
 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 the unprotected skin.
Example:
 If
a sunscreen is rated for SPF 2 and a fairskinned person who would normally turn red after
10 minutes of exposure uses it, it would take
twenty minutes of exposure for their skin to turn
red. Subsequently, if that person used a
sunscreen with SPF 15, it would take 15 times
longer to burn, or 150 minutes.
Does SPF 30 have twice as much protection
as SPF 15?
 No!
The SPF protection does not increase
proportionately with the designated SPF number.
 In higher SPFs such as SPF 30, 97% of rays are
absorbed; however, an SPF of 15 indicates 93%
absorption, and an SPF of 2 indicates 50 %
absorption.
Does the SPF give the protection rating for
UVA or UVB rays?
 SPF
rates protection for UVB - there is no rating
system for UVA protection.
What is the difference between UVA and
UVB light wavelengths?
 UV-B
ranges in wavelengths between 280 and
320 nm. The wavelengths of UV-A radiation
range between 320 and 400 nm.
 While
UVB rays are the primary cause of
sunburn and skin cancer, UVA rays, which
penetrate deeper into the dermis, also contribute
to sunburn and skin cancer.
Sunscreen Selection Note:
Some sunscreens only protect against
UVB rays. Examples: Products using
PABA, PABA esters, and cinnamates.
If you want protection from UVA rays, you
must select a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen
that uses products like benzophenones,
oxybenzone, suilisobenzone, titanium
dioxide, zinc oxide and Parsol 1789.
How much sunscreen should you use?
 Enough
to liberally cover the exposed skin,
approximately one ounce.
How often should you apply?
 Apply
to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going
outdoors.
 Reapply after swimming or perspiring heavily.
Remember that water-resistant sunscreens may
lose their effectiveness.
 Reapply according to the SPF factor selected.
What is the difference between a sunscreen
and a sunblock?
 Sunscreens
UV rays.
absorb UV rays; Sunblocks deflect
What should I do to protect myself from the
sun?
 Use
sunscreen or sunblock.
 Use wide brimmed hats, protective clothing
such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, etc.
 Avoid sun exposure as much as possible.
How do I know at what level to protect
myself?
 Use
the UV Index as a guide.
 The UV Index is a publication provided by the
Climate Prediction Center (CPC), National
Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP),
National Weather Service (NWS), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), and U.S. Department of Commerce
(DOC).
How do I access the UV Index web site and
obtain the current UV Index for my area?

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/
uv_index/index.html
Protective Measures based on UV Index
Exposure Category UV Index
Minimal
0, 1, 2
Low
3, 4
Moderate
5, 6
High
7, 8, 9
Very High
10+

Protective Actions
Apply skin protection factor (SPF) 15 sun screen.
SPF 15 & protective clothing (hat)
SPF 15, protective clothing, and UV-A&B sun
glasses.
SPF 15, protective clothing, sun glasses and make
attempts to avoid the sun between 10am to 4pm.
SPF 15, protective clothing, sun glasses and avoid
being in the sun between 10am to 4pm.
Note: If you are aware that you are extremely sensitive to UV exposure or have a skin
condition that is worsened by UV exposure, more stringent measures are probably
required.
Estimate Minutes to Skin Damage using UV
Index Data
How do I treat a sunburn?
The two most common sunburns are first and
second degree burns.
 First degree sunburns: use cool baths and
moisturizers or over-the-counter hydrocortisone
creams. Caution your use of “-caine” products.
 Second degree sunburns: May need medical
attention. If the burn is severe, accompanied by a
headache, shills or a fever, seek help right away.
Are tanning booths a safer way to tan?
 Although
no direct linkage has been proven,
tanning booths emit UVA radiation. UVA is
known to cause cataracts, sunburns, skin
cancer and premature aging of the skin.
Credits









American Academy of Dermatology
American Cancer Society
Climate Prediction Center (CPC),
National Cancer Institute
National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Skin Centre
The Skin Cancer Foundation
South Seas Trading Company