HEALTH
SEASONS IN THE
SUN Life in the Sunshine State, considered paradise by many non-Floridians, offers great weather for year-round outdoor activities. Whether walking Lake Hollingsworth, spending time poolside with family, enjoying sports, or simply breathing fresh air, we are afforded the opportunity for many hours of fun in the sun even as we enter the autumn months. However, time spent enjoying the outdoors can have significant consequences, as overexposure to the sun can damage the skin and eyes. The sun’s ultraviolet rays (UVA, UVB, and UVC) affect your skin, the body’s protective covering, in many ways, including suntans, sunburns, freckles, moles, and skin cancers. That illustrious golden color does not come without consequences. A suntan is obtained when the sun’s rays stimulate cells, called melanocytes, to increase the production of melanin, which darkens the skin. This is an attempt to protect the body from the sun. Contrary to past popular belief, a suntan is not a “good thing.” An SPF of approximately 4 is the most you can obtain from a tan. Sunburn happens when the UV rays penetrate and kill living cells in the skin. The area turns red and becomes warm to the touch. This is a result of the body’s immune response, increasing blood flow to the area and allowing the white blood cells to remove the damaged cells. This damage to skin can lead to DNA changes, dramatically increasing the possibility of skin cancer. Freckles, sunspots, and moles also become more prevalent on those areas of skin that have repeated sun exposure. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The risk of developing skin cancer increases from UV exposure. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin 88 THE LAKELANDER
Keys to prevention and treatment of sun-damaged skin story by David Kirkpatrick, DMD cancer and mainly occurs on the head and neck. It is typically slow growing and does not metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). However, if left untreated it can be very serious and lead to disfiguring surgeries. Squamous cell carcinoma is also common and usually presents as red scaly lesions on the skin. These lesions can become very large and have the ability to metastasize. Melanoma is the deadliest of all skin cancers. It can metastasize and is responsible for over 75% of all skin cancer–related deaths. Any spot that is new, looks different, or is changing should be evaluated. For help in evaluating suspicious lesions, remember the ABCDs: A (asymmetry): one half is different than the other B (border): irregular C (color): changes in color; some areas darker than others D (diameter): rule of thumb, larger than a pencil eraser UV rays also attack the skin’s collagen, which is the main protein that’s responsible for the tight appearance and smooth texture in youthful skin. Sun exposure leads to a breakdown and weakening of collagen at a higher and faster rate than the natural aging process, resulting in an increase of wrinkles and fine lines, and leading to an accelerated aging appearance of the skin. The sun can also be dangerous to your eyes, causing cataracts, macular degeneration, and even sunburning the eyes themselves. Prevention is the key to sun protection. Some may believe that as we move from summer into fall, we can let our guard down and become less diligent in applying SPF to ourselves and our families. However, we must remain steadfast in our preventative care