Our guest speaker on Friday, July 24th was Eve Stern, BSN, MS, LME Practice Administrator with Dr. Windle/Bellevue Plastic Surgery Group. Eve is no stranger to our Club. She is the wife of Don Iverson and has spoken to our group in the past. Her topic this past week was Skin & Sun: Friend or Foe. A very timely topic as I write this column with the heat index rising into the 90's today.
Eve started her presentation with the comment that her hope was that we take away three new sources on sun and screening. Solutions to being in the sun for long periods must consider preventions from harming the skin.
The sun has the following Positive Effects:
Enhances your mood; treats seasonal affective disorders; relieves stress; improves sleep and has Vitamin D.
On the other hand, UVA rays penetrate deep within the skin and contribute heavily to sun damage and melanoma. UVA rays primarily affect skin surface and contribute to basal cell & squamous cell carcinoma. UVA rays are the main source of sunburns. Likewise, we should avoid the use of Indoor Tanning lamps which emit UVA and UVB radiation at levels that can be as much as 10-15 times stronger than the sun at its peak.
You might want to ask yourself, how serious is my sun damage? Have you been sunburned three or more times in your life? Before age 18, did you sunbathe often and regularly? Other questions include do you spend long hours outdoors doing activities or work? And do you get freckles when you've been out in the sun?
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States affectomg around 4.6 million. Melanoma has doubled in the last 30 years and is the fastest rising cancer. In 2020, experts predict 100,350 new cases and about 6,850 deaths are expected. By age 70, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer. Some of the contributing factors are excessive sun exposure, especially childhood sunburn and prevalence of high indoor tanning among teen girls in the late 1990's as contributing factors. Reducing exposure to ultraviolet rays can prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of melanoma.
Why are skin cancer rates rising? Depletion of the ozone layer; more leisure time; less clothing worn; earlier sun damage from youth showing up as skin cancer now; fashionable and socially acceptable to be tan and the use of artificial tanning and sun lamps. There is no such thing as a healthy tan according to Eve. Those at risk are those with lighter skin; skin that burns, freckles or reddens; blond colored hair; blue, green or hazel eyes; certain types and large number of moles; family history of skin cancer and older age.
The ABCDE's of melanoma are evolving moles or spots changing in recent weeks or months. Eve suggest that we do our own mole patrol monthly; consult with your physician if any of the information applies to sun and early detection has proven a 99% survival rate at five years.
The Protective measures are:
Sunglasses with UV protection; wear a wide brimmed hate; wear long sleeve shirt (SPF clothing); use broad spectrum sunblock SPF rating of 15 or higher with zinc oxide or titanium oxide or both; non-allergic and immediate reflective protection and many brands have tine to offset white pastiness. Apply liberally and often (1 oz per application and every two hours); avoid reflective surfaces; seek shade in the middle of the day which is from 10 am to 4 pm and avoid tanning beds and sun lamps.
Eve's presentation was certainly timely and very educational. Consider the affects if you do nothing. Remember, try and take away three items from her presentation.