There are a number of misconceptions about the interaction between sunlight and skin. In this two part post we look at what we think are the top five most common sun and skin myths.
Myth 1: I can’t get sunburnt on a cloudy day (more…)
Top five sun and skin myths (part 1)
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012Low sunscreen use, high melanoma rates: a breakdown of the sunsmart message?
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
It’s estimated that more than 9,000 Americans will die from melanoma this year and 76,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed. Melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer which can spread (metastasize) quickly to other parts of the body, is also the second most common form of cancer in young Americans (those aged 15-29).
Overexposure of skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly increases an individual’s risk of melanoma, particularly at a young age; just one severe sunburn in childhood can double the lifetime risk of melanoma. Sun protective measures such as clothing and sunscreen are seen as key to reducing melanoma risk. (more…)
Photoaging
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Young adults are the age group most likely to seek a tan, with research showing that people under the age of 29 – particularly women – are tanning most frequently, both in the sun and under solariums. Aside from the well-recognised risks of skin cancer, there is another consequence of this increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of which many teens are not aware – photoaging. In short, all this UV exposure over time makes skin look older. (more…)
Ultraviolet A more cancer-causing than once thought
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
While the evidence linking sunbeds to the development of skin cancer continues to mount, recent research provides new insight into the underlying mechanisms.
Radiation from both the sun and tanning beds is made up of various wavelengths, including visible light and several types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, those which cause sunburn, have long been heralded the culprit which initiates skin cancer. It does this by damaging the genetic information (DNA) within skin cells, forming lesions known as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PPs). These lesions create mutations in the DNA which can lead to the development of skin cancer (you can read about this process here). (more…)
A coffee a day keeps skin cancer at bay? Look a little deeper…
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
We tweeted it earlier this week and it’s been run across numerous news sites: new research has suggested that coffee – or more specifically caffeine – can help reduce the risk of skin cancer. It’s a fascinating story and one which deserves further review.
The research, conducted across multiple US sites and supported by National Institutes of Health grants, sought to expand upon an existing understanding of the correlation between the intake of caffeinated beverages and a decrease in the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers. (more…)
Ultraviolet radiation and its effects on the skin
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-rays; it is invisible to the human eye. UV light can be separated into three bands, UVA (400-320nm), UVB (320-290nm) and UVC (290-100nm). Of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface from the sun, approximately 6% is UVB and 94% UVA.
Skin maintains a curious balance with UV radiation. When UV impacts upon skin, the various wavelengths of light penetrate to different levels and thus have a number of effects.
“Solariums make a mockery of our efforts to reduce skin cancer”: Cancer Council Australia
Monday, May 16th, 2011
Cancer Council Australia has launched one of the strongest public attacks to date on the use and regulation of sunbeds in the country. This follows a report that some solarium devices emit UV radiation six times stronger than the sun at midday in Australia.
In a press release issued today, the CEO of Cancer Council Australia, Professor Ian Olver, cited a paper published in this month’s Photochemistry and Photobiology journal when calling for the Australian Government to phase out solariums. (more…)
Dear 16-year-old Me
Thursday, May 5th, 2011A great new viral video from the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund went live earlier this week. Check it out:
Head to the DCMF website for more on their work. You can read more about melanoma on our website.
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in the US, and with summer just around the corner in the northern hemisphere, this is a timely reminder of the dangers of unprotected UV exposure.
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in America, with more than 3 million cases diagnosed each year and over 10,000 deaths from the disease. Worryingly, unlike most forms of cancer which are declining, skin cancer rates in America are on the rise. There are three common types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of these, melanoma is the least common, and yet the most frequently lethal form. (more…)
How does indoor tanning cause skin cancer?
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
Earlier today, new stats were published by Cancer Research UK highlighting that two young adult Britons are diagnosed with skin cancer every day; a rate which has tripled since the 1970s. There were several factors highlighted as contributing to this increase, but one was most clearly singled out in the release:
“using a sunbed before the age of 35 can increase your risk of melanoma by 75%”
