Kids and Fun in the Sun--Skin Cancer Risks are Increasing
for Children!
The sun is the source of all life on earth, however, too much of a
good thing can kill you. Sun exposure is the primary cause of skin cancer,
which affects an astounding 1million people in the U.S. each year. Melanoma,
the most deadly form of skin cancer, afflicts 50,000 of the U.S. population,
while the most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma and squamous
cell carcinoma. The sun is everywhere, but it’s cancer-causing
UV rays (ultra-violet rays) are stronger in the southern states, and
most intense during mid-day. It is estimated that fair skin will burn
within 5 minutes in the Florida noon-day sun. Interestingly, the majority
of our lifetime exposure occurs during our childhood. Protecting your
child’s skin during the first 18 years of their life can reduce
their skin cancer risk by 78%. Even the law is getting in on the act–a
women in Ohio was arrested and charged with a felony when she let her
three children get so severely sunburned, they had to be treated for
second-degree burns at a local hospital.
The sun gives off different types of ultraviolet rays. UV-A, UV-B rays
penetrate deep into the skin and cause sunburn, wrinkling of skin, premature
ageing, and skin cancer. UV-B rays can, over time, cause clouding of
the substance of the eye, called cataracts. UV-C rays are strong but
get filtered by the ozone layer of the atmosphere.
Surprisingly, a cloudy day can be the worst exposure day--it’s
not sunny or hot so people forget their hats and sunscreen. Yet 80%
of the suns harmful rays penetrate clouds and fog. The suns strongest
UV rays occur between 10am and 3 pm. Sit in a sunny room or a screened
in porch–you are exposed to UV rays. Drive in an air-conditioned
car–the sun’s rays can reach you too–they penetrate
clear glass. If your body leaves a shadow on the ground, then your skin
is absorbing the sun’s rays. Of course, convertibles with the
top down don’t afford much sun protection.
SPF Sun Protection Factor--a multiplication of the amount of time you
can have sun exposure without burning. Example: if you normally burn
after 10 minutes in direct sunlight, an SPF 30 would give you 300 minutes
(10 x 30 ). However, most sunscreens should be reapplied every 2 hours
because of sweating and after swimming or exercise. My personal recommendation:
forget all the numbers. Apply the highest one you can find, SPF 50 (sunblock),
and reapply every 2 hours.
One of the hotbeds of scrutiny (no pun intended) is the tanning beds
controversy. Are the use of tanning bed associated with an increase
in skin cancers among children, teens and adults? It makes sense based
on the etiology of skin cancer and melanoma coupled with the alarming
statistics of increasing skin cancer cases (any type of UV exposure
can cause skin cancer and UV rays from tanning lights are the tanning
element of tanning beds). Though medical research will take time to
evaluate this, majority of the states of the U.S. are already proposing
and passing legislation which restrict children and teens access to
tanning beds. The hypothesis is that kid’s skin, up to age 18
years of age, is even more susceptible to the harmful effects of these
UV rays–causing more disruption of their DNA–and making
it more likely they may develop skin cancer later on in life. Should
one be encouraged to go to a tanning bed to get a "base tan"
so you don’t get burned later on vacation? I would not recommend
it. The problem is sun exposure and although a gradual tan does lower
the incidence of sunburn, it is still UV exposure, and in a way, may
encourage more sunning. The solution is liberal use of sunblock and
sunscreen.
Each week, I care for people with the diagnosis of skin cancer. It
came even closer to home when a friend of the family was diagnosed with
melanoma on her abdomen, necessitating a wide excision of tissue. She
is only 20 years old. But every surgeon will tell you, this is not an
unusual case.
We are just learning the full effects of the risks of sun and its damaging
rays. Awareness on this issue in the future will be quite different
than was in my childhood and school years. Even as recently as when
I was a medical intern, I spent 10 weeks at an overseas missionary hospital
located on the equator, and though I wore a hat, I rarely applied sun
block. Today, we carry it with us wherever we go. Florida, in particular,
has one of the highest number of sunny days combined with a high UV
index.
A startling statistic: according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma
kills more young women than any other cancer. I predict that within
ten years, it will be a requirement for daycare and elementary schools
to protect their students, with mandatory shelters over playgrounds
and other shaded play areas, require hats for outside play, and even
teach and encourage sunscreen use. Same with all outdoor sports teams.
In the meantime, parents and schools can teach healthy habits of such,
wear hats, apply sun screen when outside, schedule outdoor events in
early morning when possible, and take advantage of naturally shaded
areas for lunch and playtime. It is also recommended to wear shirts
while in the water at the beach or pool, where 80% of the suns rays
can be reflected from the water.
Do it for preservation of your skin against premature ageing and wrinkles.
Do it for cancer avoidance, and the disfiguration that can occur with
its surgical treatments. Think how much you'll save on Botox and plastic
surgery. Do it for your children. Put hats and sunscreen on your kids–you
just might save their life someday.
* * *
Readers may send questions to this
email address. This column is for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice.
* * *
