What is ultraviolet radiation (UV)?

When you see a rainbow, you are seeing visible light being separated into its component colors by a prism effect of water in the air. In a rainbow the blue and violet colors are always on the bottom of the rainbow’s arch, and the red is always on top. This occurs because visible violet light has a shorter wavelength than red light. When wavelengths of light get even shorter than violet, they are in the “ultraviolet” range of light. These wavelengths are no longer visible by our eyes but they are absorbed by the skin. Within the ultraviolet spectrum of radiation there are two dangerous sets of wavelengths that damage the skin, UVA (400-315nm) and UVB (315-290 nm). Roughly, 90% of the skin damage occurs due to UVB radiation, however, UVA radiation potentiates the damage.
     Both UVB and UVA radiation contribute to the development of the three main types of skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers very rarely spread through the body and are treated quite reliably by surgical excision. Melanoma is the skin cancer that kills. Depending on the depth of penetration into the skin at the time the melanoma is diagnosed, it has very significant risks of spreading through the body and being fatal!
     In addition to causing skin cancer, both UVB and UVA radiation contribute to premature aging of the skin. This is characterized by loose, wrinkled, leathery appearing, inelastic skin with irregular brown pigmentation and broken capillaries.

How do indoor cosmetic tanning beds work?

In 1985 the FDA approved UVA emitting products for the use of cosmetic skin tanning. It was thought that UVA radiation could cause skin tanning without any harmful effects. However, since that time, research has discovered that UVA radiation does potentiate the harmful effects of UVB radiation leading to skin cancer and premature skin aging. There is some thought that UVA radiation may be dangerous by itself. Furthermore, the emission from tanning bed bulbs is not pure and there can be small but measurable amounts of UVB radiation from the bulbs. A recently published study followed 106,000 women from Norway and Sweden. That study found that those who regularly used tanning beds once or twice a month increased their risk of developing melanoma by 55% compared to those that did not tan. Indoor cosmetic tanning with ultraviolet (UVA) bulbs is not “safe” tanning.

How do sunscreen lotions work?

Sunscreens work by containing a variety of chemicals that soak into the outer layer of your skin and then these chemicals absorb most of the ultraviolet radiation. Sunscreens are rated by their SPF, or Sun Protective Factor, which is a rough measure of how much longer you could stay out in the Sun before getting a sunburn. However, it is not an exact science and sunscreens do not do as well with absorbing UVA radiation. The minimum protective sunscreen would be a SPF-15, which would absorb approximately 90% of the harmful radiation. Increasing the SPF to 25 to 30 gains about another 4% to 5% of protection and this is worthwhile and cost effective. There is no reason to spend extra money on over priced sunscreens that are advertised to be more then SPF-30, because it is doubtful that they provide any better protection than an SPF-25 to 30. Remember to apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in to the Sun. It is essential that you re-apply sunscreen often throughout the day and re-apply after going in the water.

What are the options for tanning and treatment of Sun damaged skin?

Cosmetic spray tanning is the way of the future for safe tanning. The FDA approved tanning solutions are DHA sugars that react naturally with protein in the skin to create a golden tan which lasts about 7 days. The technology has improved greatly since the days of rub-on tanning creams. There are now completely private, self-contained, computerized spray tanning booths such as is MagicTan™ that will spray an even and fine mist of tanning solution on your entire body in less than a minute.
     The treatment of wrinkles in severely sun-damaged skin is limited, but there are products and treatments that can improve your look. Popular skin care treatments include Retin-A and other integrated programs such as Obagi® and Cynergy®, which can improve the health of your skin in both the dermis and epidermis. Brown discoloration of the skin and broken capillaries resulting from sun damage can very effectively and safely be removed with a sophisticated technology called intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. Maintenance using products such as hydroquinone creams are available to prevent further brown discoloration.
 

Under 18s should never use a sunbed, world health experts have said.

The World Health Organization guidance said young people who get burnt from exposure to UV have a greater risk of skin cancer as adults.  Research has made a direct link between the use of sunbeds and cancer. There are 132,000 cases of the most dangerous form of skin cancer globally each year.  The WHO said it was issuing its warning now as many people began to think about developing a tan as summer approached.

"The consequence of this sunbed usage has been a precipitous rise in the number of skin cancer cases"; Dr Kerstin Leitner, WHO

The WHO warns some sunbeds can emit levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation which are many times stronger than the mid-day summer sun in most countries.  The highest skin cancer rates are found mainly in places where people are fairest-skinned and where it is seen as socially desirable to have a tan, such as Australia, New Zealand, North America and northern Europe.  An estimated 66,000 people die each year from the most dangerous skin cancer, malignant melanoma, and other forms of the disease.   In Norway and Sweden, the annual incidence rate for skin cancer has tripled in the last 45 years, while, in the US, the rate has doubled in the last 30 years.  In the UK, there are around 70,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year.

A rise in the use of sunbeds, combined with the fashion for a tan, are considered to be the prime reasons behind the increase in skin cancers.

Mounting concern

Only in France and California are under 18s banned from using sunbeds.  And Belgium, France and Sweden are the only countries to limit the levels of the most dangerous form of UV radiation, UV-B from sunbeds.  The WHO called on other countries to introduce more stringent regulations.  The UK's Sunbed Association said it had a voluntary code which says no-one under 16 should be allowed to use a sunbed.

Dr Kerstin Leitner, WHO Assistant Director-General responsible for environmental health, said: "There has been mounting concern over the past several years that people and in particular, teenagers are using sunbeds excessively to acquire tans which are seen as socially desirable.  "However, the consequence of this sunbed usage has been a precipitous rise in the number of skin cancer cases.

"We are therefore calling attention to this fact and we would hope that this recommendation will inspire regulatory authorities to adopt stricter controls on the usage of sunbeds."

Dr Leitner advised: "Avoid excess exposure to UV and, when you have to be in the sun, protect your skin.  "Malignant melanomas, other cancers and conditions are the consequence of not taking the proper precautions."  Jo Viner Smith, manager of the Cancer Research UK's skin cancer prevention campaign SunSmart said: "We particularly discourage sunbed use by people with skin that is more susceptible to sun damage; for example, those with fair hair, freckles, moles, or whose skin burns easily and among under-16s.

"This recommendation goes one step further extending that age to 18."  She added: "We hope this recommendation from the world's leading experts will help our campaign in advocating enforced regulations about sunbeds.  "As introduction of a law looks unlikely we want the sunbed industry to focus on self-regulation. We also hope the recommendation will stop tanning salons from targeting young people with claims of unproven health benefits."