The UV Problem
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006 there will be 62,190 new cases of melanoma in this country. About 7,910 people will die of this disease. The 1996-2000 melanoma incidence rate in Colorado was 33% higher than the U.S. rate for males and 40% higher than the U.S. rate for females.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) are the two types of radiation that can damage your skin and eyes. The sun’s UVA rays can penetrate deeply and damage the skin’s lower layers. This can cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, suntan, precancerous skin conditions, and skin cancer. The sun’s UVB rays can damage the skin’s outer layer and cause sunburn and skin cancer.
Your risk or chance of skin damage depends on:
- your family history of skin cancer
- your skin type (how easily your skin burns when exposed to the sun)
- your behavior (how much time you spend in the sun unprotected)
Even though skin cancer most often develops in adulthood, its development may be related to our behavior as children. Scientists theorize that there are two primary triggers for skin cancer— accumulated lifetime exposure to the sun and severe sunburns during childhood.
Accumulated Lifetime Exposure
The more time spent in the sun over a lifetime, the greater the risk of developing skin cancer. How does this relate to children? We get most of our sun exposure as children. Kids play outdoors. They need to know how to stay safe in the sun by finding shade, wearing cover-up clothing, and using sunscreen.
Severe Sunburns
Severe sunburns are insults to the skin and its cells that can cause permanent damage to the skin’s deeper layers. Only one severe sunburn before the age of 18 appears to significantly increase the risk of developing melanoma later in life. Because children spend so much time outdoors, it is crucial to teach them how to prevent sunburn.
Skin Cancer
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can alter DNA. Usually cells repair this damage quickly, but sometimes the damage can trigger an abnormal growth of skin cells, which may become either a precancerous skin condition or skin cancer. One type of precancerous skin condition, actinic keratosis (AK), may be mistaken for a patch of dry skin that won’t go away. AKs are small, slightly raised scaly spots that may be tan, brown, gray or red. If left untreated, they may become cancerous.
Of course, the most serious consequence of too much sun exposure is skin cancer. There are two types of skin cancer: nonmelanoma and melanoma and of these two these are the three most common types:
- Melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
Each type of cancer is named for the type of skin cell from which it arises. Melanoma is a malignancy of the skin’s pigment-producing cells or melanocytes. Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignancy of the cells of the middle or upper epidermis, while basal cell carcinoma occurs when the cells at the base of the epidermis turn malignant.
Non-melanoma skin cancers include basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least aggressive type of skin cancer. However, it can be quite destructive and has the potential to spread if left untreated. In its classic form, basal cell carcinoma is a small bump with a translucent quality. It is somewhat red due to enlarged “bloodshot” vessels on its surface. As it grows larger, the surface often ulcerates or forms a scab.
Squamous cell carcinoma is not as aggressive as melanoma. Cure rates are in excess of 95% when the tumor is detected and treated early. Chronic overexposure to the sun, as might occur with outdoor employment is a major cause. Actinic keratosis (AK) is a very common skin lesion which is now recognized as the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. Left untreated, these lesions can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer usually appears as a reddish-colored firm lump or plaque with a scaly surface. Each of these irregularities is most commonly found on areas of the body that have been chronically exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, and the scalp of bald men.
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Melanoma is less common than the other two types of skin cancer, but is far more deadly. It is almost always curable in its early stages, but because of its potential to metastasize (spread to other regions of the body), early detection and treatment are crucial. It most commonly has the appearance of an unusual mole. Melanoma frequently exhibits the “ABCD’s” of: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Coloration which is dark or in multiple shades, and Diameter the size of a pencil eraser of larger. Melanoma can appear on previously normal skin, or can develop in a pre-existing mole. A pigmented skin lesion that is new, enlarges, changes shape, darkens or looks odd compared to typical moles, is cause for concern.
Eye Damage
Overexposure to the sun also can damage your eyes and cause cataracts. With cataracts, the lens of the eye becomes thick and cloudy, resulting in reduced vision or blindness. According to the World Health Organization, 16 million people worldwide are currently blind as a result of cataracts and as many as 20% of these may be due to UV exposure.
Helping your students and staff adopt sun safe habits may help them avoid the health problems that can accompany a lifetime of sun exposure.
