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Precaution Measures

What are sunscreens?
A primary goal of sun protection is the prevention of sunburns, but that is not its only goal. Incremental damage to the body occurs with each exposure to UV radiation, even exposure that does not produce redness or burning. This damage is cumulative with time and the magnitude of exposure. Over the years, total time in the sun is reflected by wrinkles, blotchy pigmentation, and with enough exposure, skin cancer.
Chemical sunscreens block the penetration of UV radiation through the epidermis by acting as filters and absorbing and reflecting high-energy UV. The sunscreen molecules absorb high energy UV photons, but a certain amount of UV light will enter the epidermis -- as no chemical sunscreen blocks 100 percent of all UV radiation.

What is the difference between a sunscreen and a sun block?
The terminology used on sunscreen labels can be confusing. The protection provided by a sunscreen is indicated by the SPF listed on the product label. A sun block is considered to be any sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more. In theory, sunscreens protect an individual during an incident of UVB radiation exposure according to the following:
SPF 15 sunscreen may absorb more than 92 percent of UVB radiation.
SPF 30 sunscreen may absorb 96.7 percent.
SPF 40 sunscreen may absorb 97.5 percent of UVB radiation

What does SPF mean?
SPF value of a sunscreen is defined as the ratio of the energy required to produce a minimal erythema dose (skin reddening or minimal sunburn) through the sunscreen, compared to the energy required to produce the same reaction in the absence of the sunscreen.
For example, an individual who burns after 30 minutes of sun exposure could, in theory, extend the period of time until a burn begins to two hours with an SPF 4 sunscreen. However, the same person using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 (15 hours of theoretical burn protection) may not in fact be protected from UV-induced erythema for an entire day of continuous sun exposure.

What about the chemicals in sunscreens?
The majority of the commercially available sunscreens today are a combination of agents from several chemical groups.
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was an early chemical sunscreen agent frequently associated with contact and sun-contact sensitivity reactions, had poor consistency, and often discolored clothing. It is rarely found in sunscreens today.
Para-aminobenzoic acid esters (primarily octyl dimethyl para-aminobenzoic acid) are commonly used in many sunscreens and have not been associated with the problems of PABA.

 

How to use sunscreens:
A sunscreen protects from sunburn and minimizes suntan by reflecting UV rays. Information in the parentheses refers to the UV Index.
Use of a sunscreen with SPF of 20 to 30 offers substantial protection from sunburning and usually permits no tanning.
Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that filters out UVA and UVB.
A sunscreen that provides an SPF under 4 offers the least protection. If you rarely burn and always tan this level of skin protection may be sufficient to help prevent burning and uneven coloration.
High SPF sunscreens protect from burning for longer periods of time than do sunscreens with lower SPFs.
Apply sunscreens to all exposed areas of skin including those easily overlooked areas such as the rims of the ears, the lips, the back of the neck, and the feet.)
Sunscreens are recommended for everyone (over six months of age) because all skin types need protection from solar ultraviolet rays. Lighter skin types are at the greatest risk of developing skin cancer; but all people are at some risk. Wrinkling, toughening, and aging will happen to all skin types.
Apply sunscreen liberally. Recommended dose is 1 ounce per application. Reapply every two hours, after being in the water, or after exercising or sweating. Incidental time in the sun could add up to a sunburn. Don't forget the time spent walking your dog, window shopping, or jogging on your lunch hour.
Don't forget the sunscreen when performing outdoor chores.
   
   
Treatment for skin cancer:
Specific treatment for skin cancer will be determined by your physician based on:
your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference There are several kinds of treatments for skin cancer, including the following:
surgery
*Surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer -- used about 90 percent of the time, and often includes the following procedures:

*cryosurgery - freezing the tumor, which kills cancer cells.

*electrodesiccation and curettage - burning the lesion and removing it with a sharp instrument.

*grafting - uses a skin graft to replace skin that is damaged when cancer is removed.

*laser therapy - using a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells.

*Mohs micrographic surgery - removing the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the physician removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure no cancer cells remain.

*simple excision - cutting the cancer from the skin along with some of the healthy tissue around it.
radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses a radiation machine that emits x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
electrochemotherapy
Electrochemotherapy uses a combination of chemotherapy and electrical pulses to treat cancer.

Other types of treatment include:
*chemotherapy - treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells.
 

*topical chemotherapy - chemotherapy given as a cream or lotion placed on the skin to kill cancer cells.

*systemic chemotherapy - chemotherapy taken by pill, or needle injection into a vein or muscle.


*biological therapy (sometimes called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy, or immunotherapy)
Biological therapy tries to get your own body to fight cancer by using materials made by your own body, or made in a laboratory, to boost, direct, or restore your body's natural defenses against disease.
photodynamic therapy

*Photodynamic therapy uses a certain type of light and a special chemical to kill cancer cells.

*Immunotherapy of melanoma involves injecting a medication (called interferon) to boost the body's own immune system, helping it to slow the growth of the cancer.
 

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