(Originally published World of Westchase – July 2019)

When you think of July, it is easy to think of summer vacation, family reunions, cookouts, beaches, fireworks, and lots of heat and sunshine.  Since 78 percent of the US experience the hottest days of the year in July, it is befitting that July is UV Safety Awareness Month.  Ultraviolet radiation is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun.  Ultraviolet radiation can also come from artificial sources, like tanning beds.

There are three components of UV rays; ultraviolet C, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet A.  Ultraviolet C (UVC) is the most dangerous, but most UVC is absorbed through the earth’s atmosphere, and very little reaches the earth.  UVB is the second most potent.  It makes vitamin D.  Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium as well as phosphorus from food sources.  It also helps to strengthen bones.  On the flip side, continuous exposure can cause skin cancer.  UVA is the least potent, and the most abundant component that reaches the earth. UVA accounts for 95% of ultraviolet radiation that we are exposed to, and its exposure is year round.  It is known to cause aging of skin cells, and more recent research suggests that it may also cause skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.  Rates of the new cases of treatment of skin cancer are steadily increasing due to the size of the population and the number of people aging.

Melanin helps protect against UV rays.  Melanocytes make melanin.   And melanin is the pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair, and eyes.  The more melanin, the darker your skin, hair, and eyes.  The lighter the skin, eyes, and hair, the greater the risk of skin cancer.  Other risk factors include family history, the amount of sun exposure, and if you are over 50 years of age.

Melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer but the most aggressive and life-threatening.  There were over 80,000 new cases recorded in 2016 according to the Center of Disease Control.  Non-melanoma skin cancers are not included in that number because they are so common, and curable, they are not usually reported to cancer registries.  They are typically treated with medications or minor procedures in a doctor’s office.   Non-melanoma cancers are often called keratinocyte carcinoma.  They include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

To protect the body from overexposure to UV rays, the Center of Disease Control recommends a sunscreen of +30 or higher.  Additional strategies for protection include:

  • Wear wide brim hats
  • Wear long sleeve shirts and pants that block the sun
  • Wear UV absorbent sunglasses
  • Limiting exposure, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM
  • Frequently re-applying sunscreen when sweating or swimming