Summertime is known for vacations, spending time with family and friends, and outdoor escapades under the bright sun.
When tanning and enjoying the outdoors, many people forget to protect their skin properly. For many, this may lead to sunburns and other skin conditions.
“We don’t think about it when we are younger, because we are bulletproof,” said TJC nursing professor Jan Hicks, MSN, RN, CCRN.
It is estimated that 1 in 3 Americans get sunburned each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Skin Cancer Foundation said 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to the sun.
“Things like Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are some of the most preventable types of cancer that there are, if you take the time to protect your skin when you’re young,” said TJC nursing professor Chris Grier, MSN, APRN, FNP-C.
Ultraviolet radiation, also known as UV rays, are a major cause of these issues.
There are two kinds of UV rays to understand: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays deeply penetrate the skin and cause premature aging and skin cancer. UVB rays affect the outer layer of skin and cause sunburn.
The UV rays damage skin cells and cause mutations in DNA. When skin cells get overexposed to harmful UV rays they can die off and cause blood vessels to dilate. This increases blood flow and brings immune cells to the skin to repair the damage. This inflammation is known as sunburn.
As sunburns heal, some of the cells that manage to survive are mutated beyond repair. These mutated skin cells have the possibility of turning into skin cancer.
The worst part of UV rays damaging your skin is that it is irreversible.
Grier advises minimizing UV radiation exposure. “Over time, it scars and it doesn’t heal like it used to and it’ll cause irreparable damage and can lead to skin cancer if you are not careful,” Grier said.
The most important thing to remember is sunscreen. Sunscreen comes in many different forms, like sprays, sticks and lotions. It’s important to get sunscreen with a broad spectrum of protection. This means it will protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
Another important thing to consider when shopping for sunscreen is its sun protection factor, or SPF number. The minimum acceptable SPF is SPF 15, although you should consider getting one with a higher SPF. The higher the SPF number, the more it will protect you from the harmful rays of the sun.
Sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours. Many people believe it is a one and done deal, but sunscreen wears off.
Many people also forget sunscreen expires. It is important to check the expiration date on your sun protection and make sure it is less than three years from the date it was opened.
Another way to minimize chances of skin problems is appreciating the shade. Enjoying time in the shade or investing in a sunhat will help immensely. It is always necessary to take periodic breaks from the sun when spending days outside.
“Skin is an organ,” TJC nursing professor Cecilia Smith, MSN, RN, said. “You got to treat it like you’re going to take care of your other organs.”
Dressing appropriately can save you a lot of suffering. Wearing pants and long sleeves made of tightly woven materials can inhibit the amounts of UV radiation touching your skin. Research also shows that darker colors protect from UV rays much better than lighter colors.
If you do some research, you can find clothing that is certified under international standards and manufactured to protect skin from harmful rays.
Hicks recalls not taking care of her skin when she was younger.
“I sunbathed, I put baby oil on there, anything to get darker. I’m 65, but I haven’t been out in the sun as much from my early twenties on,” Hicks said. “I have watched it closer and don’t get burnt like I used to, and I think it’s been to my benefit. I’ve seen people who, as they age, there are far more wrinkles, more age spots, more chances of skin cancer.”
The need for sun protection knowledge is vital to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or any factor.
