Ban the tan
Skin cancer, other problems occurring at high rates
BY LES O’DELL Kimberly Lillig loves summer. While the season gives Lillig a chance to enjoy long evenings and being outside, local dermatologists say the relaxed nature of summer should not lead her to forget about caring for her skin. In fact, they say skin care is more important in the summer than any other time of year. “The sun is at its closest and strongest during the summer months,” says Dr. Ted G. Van Acker, owner of Southern Illinois Dermatology. “The most damage is done during the summer months as people use less protective clothing and are outdoors more.” It’s a combination that makes for lots of skin problems, says Dr. Sean Burke, a dermatologist with offices in Herrin and Murphysboro. “As far as summer goes, we have issues with ultraviolet exposure, and we see lots more contact allergens such as poison ivy. Insect bites are also a problem,” he says.
Sun blocks, bronzing and burns Burke says the problem with the summer sun is astronomical, literally. “What makes summer different is that the intensity of the UV light is much higher than any other season because of the axis of the earth,” he explains. The intensity can quickly lead to sun-related problems such as sunburns, sun stroke and sun eruptions, called polymorphous light eruptions, which appear as a rash. Van Acker urges prevention. “The most important issue is limiting the amount of exposure,” he says. He adds that people should avoid exposure to the sun’s rays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the rays are the strongest. “Using a sun block with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher should be part of a person’s daily routine,” he adds. SPF is a measure of protection from the
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERN Dr. Sean Burke inspects a few questionable spots on the arm of Kendall Adams of Carbondale during a visit to Burke’s office in Murphysboro.
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‘A tan usually means there’s already some damage. It’s a way for our bodies to protect our DNA from being harmed.’ — Dr. Sean Burke, local dermatologist
radiation of ultraviolet light in the sun’s rays. Burke says even though the American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of 15, a block with an SPF of 30 is much better, providing 98 percent of complete protection. He warns, however, that users have to be certain to apply and reapply the correct amount. “People often don’t use enough sun block because they don’t like the feel of it, but you have to use more to get the block you need,” he says. “Keep in mind that it doesn’t last all day. You have to reapply every 1 ½ to 2 hours. If you’re sweating, do it every hour.” He also recommends protective clothing, including long-sleeve shirts, long pants and widebrimmed hats. “For folks who have short hair or no hair, a hat is a must, especially broad-brimmed ones. Caps are fine for your forehead and nose, but your cheeks and ears are still exposed. One of the problems is that skin cancer in ears and on lips has the highest risk for spreading to other parts of the body.” Dr. George T. Nahass of Skin Care of Southern Illinois in Mount Vernon says people of all ages should be vigilant about using sunscreen. “It should be a habit just like brushing your teeth,” he says. “When you’re going to be outdoors you should be putting on sunscreen. It’s about being sun smart.” Lillig says she follows Nahass’ advice and uses plenty of sunscreen. “I tend to just burn,” she says. She says she has friends who are constantly in search of the “perfect” tan. Van Acker says there is no such thing. “No tan is good,” he says. “If a person wants added color, self-tanners come in many forms, but sunscreens should still be used with these products.” Burke said the idea of a tan providing protection is also false. “A tan usually means there’s already some damage. It’s a way for our bodies to protect our DNA from being harmed,” Burke explains. “A tan does provide some SPF — maybe a 2 or a 4 — but I never recommend getting a base tan before
May 19, 2010
vacation. It just causes damage and could lead to bigger problems.” Those bigger problems include skin cancer and cancerous lesions. “There’s more skin cancer being diagnosed today than ever before,” Burke says. “Some speculate it might be due to ozone; others think maybe we’re just better at identifying it. Regardless, one in five people will have some sort of skin cancer.” One solution, Nahass says, is to personally ban the tan. “Just don’t explicitly tan,” he says. “I put tanning on the same level as not exercising and eating a high-fat, high-salt diet. It just increases your odds of trouble later in life.”
Don’t forget the little things and the little ones When it comes to the summer sun, the dermatologists remind people to not overlook small things. Van Acker encourages the use of sunglasses, also with UV protection, to protect the eyes. Burke says a variety of lip balms are available with SPF built in, and some cosmetics also include some protection. “Don’t forget to reapply them during the day, just like sun block,” Burke says. All three dermatologists emphasize the importance of protecting small children such as Lillig’s infant daughter Katelyn, from potentially harmful rays. “Sun protection is important for everybody,” Nahass adds. “And trust me, putting on sunscreen is a lot less painful than getting skin cancer removed.”
Brush, bugs and bites: Covering up is the best solution Other summer skin problems often seen by dermatologists are related to outdoor environments, specifically insects and allergens including poison ivy. Local dermatologist Sean Burke says for optimum protection, avoid shorts and tank tops. “It’s OK to be outside, but if you’re in heavy brush or in the woods, wear long pants and maybe even long sleeves,” he says. “If you don’t, make sure you wash your exposed skin thoroughly when you get back inside. It is the oils of the plants that interact with proteins in our skin and cause rashes.” He says rashes such as poison ivy or poison oak cannot be passed from one person to another or from one part of the body to another. However, he says he has seen cases where people have gotten a rash from coming in contact with clothing worn outside or from an indoor pet who went exploring in the woods. Also troublesome in the woods and backyards are insects. Avoiding bug bites can be accomplished through the use of insect sprays. “The regular Deet spray is one of the better ones,” Burke explains. “Typically, if you get the lower percentages, like 10 or 15 percent active ingredient, they will be safe for anyone including children.” Burke says there also are alternative insect repellents that can be used, including some with an organic base. He says that most of the sprays will protect wearers from all types of biting insects including mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks, but it is still a good idea to carefully examine children for ticks when they come in from playing outdoors. — Les O’Dell