Beauty: Dark side of the sun

30.07.09

This week some shocking new statistics on sunbed use were announced, like the fact that people who use them under the age of 30, can increase their chances of skin cancer by 75% in later life.

Below Laura explains why it's not only sunbeds we should be worried about...

This article has been kindly reproduced courtesy of the Irish Mail on Sunday.

The Dark Side of the Sun

Here comes summer... but with Irish skin cancer rates soaring, it's high time we got serious about our sun protection, says Laura Bermingham.

Now that the primary-school kids have put away their books for the last time, this month marks the start of a long and enjoyable summer for many families - but, please, let's make it a safe one in the sun! Sunny days are great for the soul - they make us feel happier and we all love to throw a barbecue, or take a walk on the beach and simply enjoy the feeling of warmth on our skin. But too much sun exposure coupled with inadequate sunscreen and we run the risk of getting painfully sunburnt while also speeding up our skin's ageing process.

Sadly, it doesn't end there. Ireland has the highest skin cancer rates in Europe, with more than 5,000 new cases of the disease every year. But 90 per cent of all skin cancer is preventable: virtually all the risk comes from the sun and sunbeds. So it's time to wake up to the danger of sunbeds once and for all, and become absolutely rigorous with our sun protection.

But just what is it about the sun's rays that is so dangerous? UVR, or ultraviolet radiation, is not something we can see or feel but it is what makes us tan and burn and contributes to skin cancer and photoageing. UV rays are divided into three categories based on wavelength:UVA rays are long, UVB medium and UVC short. UVC and some UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer and so never reach the Earth. Most of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches our skin is UVA, the type of ray that can cause skin ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer. Much less of the radiation that reaches the earth is UVB - but this is what causes skin to burn, can damage the eyes and can also lead to skin cancer.

 

It is believed that on average we get 80 per cent of our lifetime's sun exposure by age 18 so,

because children's skin is more vulnerable, parents should make sure that their kids are never allowed to burn. As sun damage is accumulated throughout our whole life, too much sun exposure and insufficient UV protection early on can cause serious concerns later.

 

And the statistics on skin cancer rates in Ireland are something we need to take very seriously. Consultant dermatologist Dr Rosemary Coleman of Blackrock Clinic is one of Ireland's top skin specialists.She warns,‘We must be more aware of how sun exposure affects

our skin. In the last 10 years, the National Cancer Register in Ireland has recorded a 36 per cent increase in the instances of skin cancer, giving this country the worst rating for all of Europe per capita.'

 

In Ireland, one out of every eight men and one in every 10 women will develop a form of skin cancer by the age of 74, according to the Irish Cancer Society. Dr Coleman points out that most skin cancers are treatable if caught early but we must all be vigilant about checking our bodies for signs of change. ‘Think of skin cancer with the appearance of any new lump, bump or non-healing sore, or a changing mole - and get anything suspicious checked out by your GP immediately,' she advises.

 

‘We also need to make more informed choices when it comes to buying products to protect our skin, and realise that with all the different ranges available, we can find a sunscreen for every occasion. Whether you are heading to the beach or the office, you can and should wear UV protection for better skin health [see box opposite]. And when it comes to our children, we as parents can greatly reduce the amount of skin damage they accrue with the right treatment for their skin. This will instil in them at an early age the discipline for taking care of themselves in the sun as they grow up.'

 

Aside from our fondness for the beach and proclivity to strip off in the park at the first blink of sunshine, we milk-white Irish have another unhealthy habit that could end up killing us. Sunbed use became popular in Ireland in the Eighties and is still worryingly acceptable today. Sunbeds are often seen as an easy way to get a ‘base' colour before baring all on the beach and beginning to tan in earnest on the annual sun holiday away. For a long time, a myth persisted that sunbeds provided a ‘safe' form of tanning rather than sunbathing in natural sunlight.

 

This isn't true - sunbeds emit UV rays just like the sun, with some models giving off 10-15 times more UV than the midday sun. More confusingly, sun-lamp use was occasionally prescribed for the treatment of certain skin conditions, perhaps fuelling the myth that tanning this way was actually good for the skin, or preparing it in some way for sun exposure. Cancer Research UK actively campaign for licensing in the area of tanning facilities and for controlling sunbed use. They warn: ‘You can't always see the damage that UV does straight away as it builds up gradually. But every time you use a sunbed you are damaging your skin, making it look worse in the long run. Using sunbeds before the age of 35 increases your risk of

developing melanoma skin cancer by 75 per cent.'

 

‘People might think sunbeds are safer than the sun but they definitely aren't,' agrees Dr Coleman. ‘They should be completely banned.' And if you value your health, that should be the last word on the subject.

 

But while we're outdoors, how can we best protect our skin from burning while preventing premature ageing - and just how do suncare products work? According to Dr Patrick Treacy of Ailesbury Clinic, Dublin, ‘The SPF of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of its effectiveness - the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UVB, the

UV radiation that causes sunburn. The SPF indicates the time a person with sunscreen applied can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburn relative to the time a person without sunscreen can be exposed.

 

‘The SPF is an imperfect measure of skin damage because invisible damage and skin ageing is also caused by the very common UVA, which does not cause reddening or pain,' he continues. ‘Conventional sunscreen doesn't block UVA as effectively as it does UVB and an SPF rating of 30+ may in reality translate to significantly lower levels of UVA protection.

 

However, the Persistent Pigment Darkening or PPD method measures UVA protection, similar to the SPF method of measuring UVB light protection. It was originally developed in Japan and is the preferred method used by manufacturers such as L'Oréal.'

 

This PPD rating isn't the only system used to indicate that a product offers UVA protection. There are several methods in use, including Boots' ownbrand star system, and a UVA symbol endorsed by the European Commission, which you should look out for on sunscreen bottles. The Commission's guidelines to ensure efficient skin protection state that the ratio of UVB to UVA protection should be a minimum of 3:1. So, if you buy an SPF 30, you're getting UVA protection of factor 10.However, L'Oréal brands including Vichy and La Roche-Posay offer even better UVA protection, with lower ratios such as 2:1 - so with an SPF 30, you get a UVA protection of 15.

 

The new UVA logo system that indicates a suncare product is compliant with EU recommendations is good for the consumer and has been adopted by most European suncare brands. Still, do remember that when choosing a sunscreen product, the higher

you go with an SPF, the more likely it is you will have efficient protection against skin-ageing UVA.

 

But even when using the higher-factor sunscreens our skin may still burn, because we are simply not using enough lotion or topping up as regularly as is needed. Sunscreens are only fully effective when used in sufficient quantities. The average-sized adult would need to apply the equivalent of six filled teaspoons to adequately protect their skin. Most people use only half this amount, which ultimately reduces their protection by even more than half, according to

European Commission advice. However, water and sweat will also interfere with the level of protection, so re-apply after swimming and get into the cool shade. In general, topping up every two hours is wise.

 

Dr Coleman suggests: ‘For children, there are many waterproof, thicker formulations and stick sunscreens, and these should be used in conjunction with UVprotective clothing or tightly woven fabrics to block out the sun. Children's exposure should be restricted from 11am to 3pm, when the sun is at its highest.'

 

Always remember to apply sunscreen lotion 20-30 minutes before exposure to sunlight. This allows the product to settle on your skin and begin to protect you and your family. As to when you need to use sunscreen, sunny days are an obvious one, but the UV rays that surround us all are present even on a cloudy day. Some can penetrate glass and water and can even reflect back onto you as you sit in the shade.

So, a helpful rule is: if the sun's about, you need to get the suncare out! And if it's a grey day, it's still a good idea to make sure your regular moisturiser or foundation has medium-level UV protection to keep your skin healthy and younger-looking for longer.

Visit www.cancer.ie/sunsmart

Below Laura recommends the best sunscreens, whatever your skin type. 

Suncare for everyone!

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid

Foundation SPF 30, €29.10

This great sunscreen and

foundation takes the hassle

out of getting the right level

of protection going to work

on a bright day, but with the

coverage you want from your

regular foundation! It comes

with a sponge for speedy

application and is long-wearing.

 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Fluide

Extreme SPF 50+, €21.50, with €1

going to the Irish Cancer Society

Anthelios has become a cult suncare

brand here in Ireland. Its UVA

protection is one of the highest

available with its patented Mexoryl

SX and Mexoryl XL. New for 2009

in the SPF 50 face range. Light,

easy to apply and water-resistant,

it also comes in a tinted formula.

 

RoC Minesol Invisible Mist Spray

SPF 20, SPF 30 & SPF 50, €18.02

A lot of people see high SPFs and

think instantly that the product will

turn them a deathly shade of white

- but technology in suncare has

moved on and newer sunscreens

like this new Invisible Mist from

RoC will give you the protection

you need without the telltale

signs of stronger sun protection.

 

Lavera Sun 20 Neutral

Sun Milk SPF 20, €10.49

This sun milk was developed

for those with a high intolerance

to the sun and skin that is very

sensitive or prone to allergies. A

100% mineral sunblock, it offers a

solution for people who are likely

to have an adverse reaction to

regular sunscreen formulations.

 

Hamilton Toddler SPF 50 Milk, €16.95

With children, we know that

we need to go for the highestfactor

suncare available and

keep them as covered up as

possible. This Toddler milk is

extremely popular with parents

looking to protect their little

ones. Keep it in your baby bag

to be prepared for any weather.