SUNSMARTS FOR THE OUTDOORS

By Pamela A. Campbell

If you’re like me, I’m sure you like spring, summer, fall and winter for each season’s natural beauty, but most of all, I think we love summer. Why? Because we welcome the freedom of the outdoors, we enjoy more daylight hours and the joy of dressing lightly.

However, with the warmer weather comes another responsibility - sun protection from the damaging effects of the ultra violet rays. Did you know that the sun’s surface temperature is an amazing 6000C and it takes just eight minutes to reach the earth and our skin!

I am sure we would all be happy to be told we look years younger than our last birthday, and why not? Awareness of the harmful effects of solar ultra-violet radiation in the everyday environment is our only hope of combating the chronic and acute effects of this powerful source of energy.

We must begin with the most visible part of our bodies - our face. Protection from the UVA and UVB rays prevent photoaging which damages the cell membrane, depleting collagen and elastine fibers and resulting in deep wrinkles, irregular pigmentation/freckles and sagging of the facial skin. Not only does long term exposure lead to premature aging of the skin, but it also contributes to skin cancer.

For outdoor fans sunburn is caused mainly by excessive exposure to harmful UVB radiation, a "release of inflammatory mediators" in medical terms. A sun tan is actually a response to skin damage and the effects range from mild to severe reactions, such as swelling (hives), itching, thickening of the stratum corneum and epidermis and altered thermal regulatory function.

Photo sensitivity or sunlight intolerance is caused mainly by the UVA rays resulting in phototoxic and photoallergic reactions - ultra-violet ray interaction with topical or systemic medications. Certain skin conditions are aggravated by exposure to the sun - psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, porphyria, and even idiopathic disorders such as chronic actinic dermatitis, solar urticaria etc.

Scientific studies have indicated UV radiation promotes immune suppression, resulting in depression of "natural killer" cells and activation of latent viruses (herpes simplex) and carcinogenesis - P53 gene mutation and basal and squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

These complex medical terms may sound textbook oriented, however, we can be relatively safe if we choose to observe two simple factors - limit exposure and always use sunscreen with a minimum SPF15 formula.