Transcript Skin Cancer

Sun and Safe
The Sun: The Good & the Bad
BENEFITS:
HARMS:
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Heat
Light
Photosynthesis
Outdoor environment
for physical activity
• Production of
vitamin D
• Happy and positive
feelings
Suntan
Sunburn
Premature aging
Freckles
Liver spots
Wrinkles
Loss of elasticity
Cataracts
Suppression of
immune system
• Actinic keratosis
• Skin cancer
STRATEGY 1:
Know Your Personal
Risk
Outdoor workers receive up to 8 times more UV than
indoor workers and have a 60% greater risk of
developing skin cancer.
Personal Risk Equation
Your risk of getting harmed from sun exposure
is the sum of 3 components:
Who You Are (GENETICS)
Where You Live (ENVIRONMENT)
What You Do (BEHAVIOR)
PERSONAL RISK FACTOR
for sun damage
Personal Risk Factors
GENETICS
Lighter skin, hair and eyes
Family history of skin cancer
ENVIRONMENT
High Altitude
Low Latitude
Sunny Climate
Ground Reflection
GREATER RISK!
BEHAVIOR
Unprotected time outdoors
Especially in midday peak sun intensity hours
What’s Your
Skin Type?
I
Always burns, never tans,
sensitive to sun exposure
II
Burns easily, tans minimally
III Burns moderately, tans
gradually to light brown
IV Burns minimally, always tans
well to moderately brown
V
Rarely burns, tans profusely to
dark
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Never burns, deeply
pigmented, least sensitive
Genetic High Risk Factors
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Blond or red hair
Blue, green or gray eyes
Fair skin
Skin that freckles and burns easily
Many moles; large moles
Family members with melanoma
Where Do You Live?
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300+ days of sunshine each year
High elevation
Outdoor-oriented lifestyle
Low rate of sun protection
Moderate to high UV March through October
(High = April to Sept)
What Do You Do?
• Do you stay out all day in the sun without
protection?
• Do you sunbathe to get a tan?
• Do you sunburn?
• Do you go to a tanning salon?
STRATEGY 2:
How Sun Damages The Skin
At least 90% of skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Skin & UV Rays
Solar UV radiation is
95% UVA & 5% UVB.
UVA causes tanning,
aging & skin cancer.
UVB causes burning &
skin cancer.
EPIDERMIS
DERMIS
SUBCUTIS
Tanning beds emit
2-3 times more UVA
than the sun.
UVA does not produce
vitamin D.
Suntans & Sunburns
• A suntan tells you that your skin is trying to protect
itself from damaging UV rays.
• Suntans may give some protection from sunburn, but
the skin gets damage while getting the tan, including
aging from UVA rays.
• Cumulative sun exposure (including tanning) can lead
to skin cancer.
• Sunburns increase risk for developing melanoma.
Skin Cancer Formation
• UVA and UVB rays hit the epidermis
• DNA in skin cells begins to break down
• To fend off damage, skin produces melanin, proof of
DNA damage
• The immune system kicks into gear and tries to repair
damaged cells
• More sun exposure hampers the repair
• Damaged cells can mutate into skin cancer
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell
Squamous Cell
Melanoma
STRATEGY 3:
Reduce Your UV
Exposure
Regular UV protection can reduce skin cancer risk by
80%
3.1 Limit Time In The Sun
• Schedule outdoor activities around
intense midday hours (10 am to 4
pm).
• Seek shade or go inside when you
can.
• Shade can reduce UV by 75%.
• Eat lunch inside or in the
shade.
• Use portable shade cover.
• Car window glass blocks UVB but
not all UVA
• Clouds block only 20%-40% of UV
Check the UV Index Daily
Moderate to High UV
• Sun protection is needed when the UV Index
is 3 (moderate) or higher.
• Also, use sun protection at high altitude in the
winter months.
• UV increases about 5% with every 400 m
gained in elevation.
3.2 Wear Cover-up Clothing
• Clothing can block 100% of UVA and
UVB.
• Wear clothing that covers
a large amount of your skin.
• Long-sleeved shirts and
long pants are best.
• Choose fabrics with a
a tight weave that allows little
or no light to pass through.
• Darker colors absorb UV better.
What is UPF or SPF?
• UPF = Ultraviolet protection Factor or
SPF= Sun protection Factor or
MED withsunprotection
MED withoutsunprotection
MED: minimal erythemal dose
• The higher the UPF the more UV that’s blocked
• SPF is a measure of UVB protection, not a measure
of UVA protection.
The Sun Safety of Hats
 Choose wide-brimmed hats.
 But, any hat is better than NO hat!
Wear Sunglasses
• The eye absorbs >99% of UV.
• UV rays can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, blindness &
melanoma of the eye.
• Select and wear large sunglasses that
block 99-100% of UV rays.
• Look for lenses that meet ANSI Z80.3.
• Lenses don’t have to be dark.
• Lenses don’t have to be expensive.
When to Wear Sunglasses
• During summer
• Around noon
• On the beach or boating
• Skiing at high altitude
• When using medication which may act as a photosensitiser.
3.3 Use Sunscreen
• Choose SPF 15 or more.
• Use sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB.
• Apply 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure.
• Apply over all exposed skin.
• Don’t rub it in too hard – it reduces effectiveness by at
least 25%.
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• Reapply at least every two hours, or more often after
swimming or sweating.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
Safety Agency…
• “Reapply regularly, but remember that reapplication only keeps
up the protection of the first application, it doesn't give you extra
protection.”
• “If applying sunscreen of SPF 15+ gives you 2 hours in the sun
without burning, then reapplying the sunscreen after 2 hours does
not protect you for another 2 hours. You have already received a
sunburn dose after the first 2 hours!”
-- www.arpansa.gov.au
Don’t forget your lips
• Use lip balm with SPF 15 or higher
• It’s sunscreen for your lips
• Most lipsticks contain titanium dioxide and have about an SPF 8
Vitamin D
• Vitamin D sufficiency is important for overall good health. Most
people can satisfy the body’s requirement for vitamin D from
casual exposure to sunlight.
– 10-15 minutes of sun exposure twice a week to the face,
arms, hands, or back without sunscreen is usually sufficient
to provide adequate vitamin D.
• Obese, darker skinned and older people can be at risk for vitamin
D deficiency, but consumption of fortified milk or orange juice
will provide the necessary amount of vitamin D.
STRATEGY 4:
Practice Early Detection
At least 95% of skin cancer can be cured if detected
early
Check Your Birthday Suit
• Look for changes in spots, moles or
sores that don’t heal.
• Use the ABCD rule for moles:
– A = Asymmetry: One half of the mole
or birthmark doesn’t match the other.
– B = Border: The edges are ragged,
irregular, or poorly defined.
– C = Color: The color varies from one
area to another and may have
differing shades of brown, black, white,
red or blue.
– D = Diameter: The area is larger
than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil
eraser) and is growing larger.
• Report unusual findings to your doctor.
-- American Academy of Dermatology
How to perform a monthly skin check:
• Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then right
and left sides arms raised.
• Bend elbows and look carefully at forearms and upper
underarms and palms
• Look at the backs of the legs and feet; spaces between toes
and sole.
• Examine back of neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part
hair for a closer look.
• Finally, check back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
• Consult a physician immediately if you have any doubt
about a mole or changing spot on your skin.
Summary
• EVERYONE needs to be sun safe.
• Some UV exposure is healthy, but avoid
sunburns and suntans
• Limit your unprotected time in the sun
• Find shade
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
• Wear sun safe clothing, hats & eyewear
• Do not use tanning lamps
• Check your skin for changes