Sun Protection Can Save Your Skin
June 21, 2023
DESTINATION HEALTHY SKIN ORLANDO
As mentioned in a previous blog post, the Destination Healthy Skin mobile RV was headed to Orlando for a two-day event to provide onsite skin cancer screenings. This cancer awareness program is sponsored nearly each year by The Skin Cancer Foundation and visits communities coast-to-coast from May till September to raise skin cancer awareness and conduct free skin cancer checkups.
Dr. Michael Steppie volunteered for the third time to be part of this community outreach. He was the only dermatologist selected by the Foundation to take part of the RV Stop last May 31st & June 1st. He and some of his dermatology providers performed nearly a total of 80 skin cancer screenings and ended up finding a large amount of pre-skin cancers and some skin cancers as part of those screenings.
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Do you know the most effective way to stay protected from the sun’s harmful rays? If your answer was to use sunscreen, you are only partially correct.
Since 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has led the way in educating both the public and the medical community of the latest information about a variety of methods for sun protection that can reduce everyone’s risk for skin cancer.
“Although sunscreen and sunblock play a major role in preventing sun damage to exposed skin,” says Dr. Michael Steppie, Orlando dermatologists and Mohs skin cancer surgeon, “it is actually a combination of protective measures that are needed to keep you safe outdoors during all months of the year.”
Why Overexposure to UV is Harmful
According to the Department of Energy, daylight that our planet is so dependent upon is a direct beam of radiation from the sun. UV radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that has shorter wavelengths and higher energy than the visible light that you can see. But, only about 40% of the solar energy is visible daylight with rest being ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) wavelengths. Where ultraviolet photons have enough energy to damage DNA, visible and infrared* photons generally do not.
Only two of the three UV wavelengths reach the ground. UVA rays, which have a longer wavelength, are a form of radiation that can penetrate deeper into the skin resulting in premature skin aging, such as wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and are the primary cause of sunburn. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer, including melanoma, the most serious type of sun-related skin disease. UVA rays can also weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infection.
*NOTE: Medical studies indicate the prolonged IR exposure in industrial settings can lead to lens, cornea and retina damage, so affected workers should wear products with IR filters or a reflective coating.
Look for SPF and UPF Product Ratings
Protecting yourself from the sun’s UV rays using a combination of sun-protective products reduces your risk of developing sun-related health problems, including the three primary types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. So always shop for products with these ratings:
Sun Protection Factor – SPF is a very important number that is based on how much longer it would take for exposed skin to redden due to the sun’s damaging UV-radiation as compared to having no protection at all. Using an SPF-30 sunscreen means it would take 30 times longer for exposed skin to start to burn under the same conditions.
a) Broad spectrum protection means that a sunscreen or sunblock protects against both UVB and UVA rays.
b) Water resistance means that a sunscreen will stay on your skin longer when swimming or sweating, so opt for 80%.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor – UPF is also a very important number to rate the sun protection for fabrics used in clothing, awnings, umbrellas and hats as well as eyewear, window film, and glass. Unlike SPF, a UPF number is a measure of UV radiation that can penetrate the product and reach your skin. Clothing with a UPF 30 only allows 1/30th of the light to reach the skin.
a) Colored fabric helps by absorbing UV rays to keep them from damaging the skin and offers more protection than lighter shades.
b) Optimal coverage includes a loose fit with long sleeves (and pants) and a minimum of 3-inch bill hats with an attached neck drape.
c) Window glass, film and eyewear should provide 99% filtering of UVA and UVB radiation to keep harmful sunrays out. Just wearing dark sunglasses without UV protection could do more harm than good. Choose UV400 eye protection.
Apply a sunscreen that is labeled as broad spectrum and has an SPF of 30 (or higher) and wear UPF 30 (or higher) labeled protective clothing that covers your arms, legs and neck. Add UV-filtering sunglasses for your eyes and wear a wide-brimmed hat for added facial protection. For skin types who need an additional layer of protection, upgrade to SPF-50 or UPF-50 ratings.
What is the Seal of Recommendation?
Since excursions to the beach, swimming pool, or favorite fishing spot invariably place you and your family in the sun for hours at the time, clothing is the single most effective form of protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. In addition, clothing manufacturers are offering new textile technologies that not only provide broad-spectrum sun protection but can reflect some of the sun’s rays while wicking sweat away from your skin to cool the body.
The Skin Cancer Foundation created a volunteer Photobiology Committee of renowned experts that oversee the granting of the Seal of Recommendation to a variety of products that meet the organization’s criteria for safe and effective sun protection. Consumers can look for the The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal on sun protection product labels, packaging, and hang tags when shopping in catalogs, online, or in-store promotions.
You can search online for seal of recommendation clothing or seal of recommendation sunscreen then scroll through pages of results for The Skin Cancer Foundation Partners, such as Land’s End, Coolibar, Solbari, San Soleil, Sun Soaked, Columbia Sportswear, Sun50, Vapor Apparel, Lululemon, Athleta, Outdoor Voices, Vuori, Kuhl, and hundreds of others. Anytime you see the Seal, it’s a win-win in knowing you properly covered.
Enjoy the Sunshine State Year Round
“Your entire family can enjoy being outdoors year round,” explains Dr. Steppie, “but it is important to protect your health with a common sense approach to managing your sun exposure.” Any time of day that you go outside, you can safeguard against both premature aging and skin cancer by wearing UPF-30 (or higher) sun-protective clothing and applying SPF-30 (or higher) sunscreen. In addition, seeking shade will allow you to better protect exposed areas of skin from damaging UV rays.
It is also important for you to avoid direct sun exposure whenever possible. According to an article published in Harvard Health, you should not depend solely on using sunscreens as your only sun strategy. Stylish sun-protective clothing provides good protection from harmful UV radiation. Along with searching for shade when you are outdoors, remember any SPF sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. Being outdoors it is easily sweated or washed off.
Remember that when you travel, the rays in destinations that are closer to the sun can be harsher than you’re used to. Plus, if you are splashing in the sun, the wind created by a jet ski moving across the water can create a deceptively cooling sensation while also washing away most of your sunblock. Although your skin may not feel the sun’s radiation while you’re participating in fun outdoor activities, damaging UV rays are always presence and pose a constant threat to your family’s health and well-being.
To schedule your next skin check, call 800-827-7546 or use this website’s convenient Contact Us form to schedule your next appointment online at one of our seventeen dermatology offices in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, Clermont, Davenport, Dr. Philips, Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Poinciana, Sanford, or St. Cloud.
