Safe fun in the sun
The sun is finally making an appearance all over the Townships, something many people are probably grateful for after all the rain. Though everyone is excited to go out and enjoy the sun, safety precautions must be taken now more than ever.
According to Dr. Linda Insonnault of the CIUSSS de l'estrie – CHUS, ultraviolet radiation, commonly known as UV rays, can cause a slew of problems. These include sunburn, premature aging, weakened immune system, eye damage and skin cancer. At this time of the year, extra care must be taken to avoid exposure in the sun.
The foundation of proper sun safety, said Insonnault, is to simply avoid the sun.
“I would never tell people to stay indoors and never go enjoy the sun. It’s important to go outside, be in the sunshine, but it must be done intelligently,” defined the doctor. “If I am going out to garden, for example, should I go at high noon in a tank top? Or should I go a little earlier in the morning and wear protective clothing? These are choices that people must make.”
Insonnault advised to wear breathable, loose fitting clothing that hide the skin from the sun. She also recommended to seek shade. “If you are at the beach, bring a parasol. If you’re at the park, stay near shady trees.”
Last but not least, is sunscreen, said Insonnault. According to her, it is important to select one that is labelled as broad-spectrum. Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful, and broad spectrum sunscreen assures protection from both. Though everyone knows that they should wear sunscreen, many professionals notice that people do not use it well.
“The problem is that they’ll throw on some SPF 60 and think they are set for the day,” commented Insonnault. “The way sunscreen works is that it binds to
the skin to protect it. For it to be effective, it should be applied at least 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure. After this, reapply often, especially if you’re going swimming.”
As for which SPF to use, she clarified that 30 is a good start.
“30 SPF is good for those who don’t have very pale skin, eyes or hair. Those who do are more at risk for sun damage, so going higher is recommended. Is there a difference between SPF 30 and SPF 60? For those with pale skin, yes. Others wont see much of a difference.”
According to the Canadian skin cancer foundation, skin cancer is the most common, but also most preventable form of skin cancer. The foundation states that 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Canada every year, over 5,000 of which are melanomas, a deadly form of the disease.
Dr. Insonnault said that in Estrie, the risks are even higher than anywhere else in the province.
“For reasons we don’t quite understand yet, the prevalence of melanomas in particular is higher in the Townships than anywhere in Quebec.” Though she speculates that it could be due to a population of paler skinned individuals, or perhaps due to different tanning habits, there is no data to that effect available yet.
Though tan skin is sought after, tanning in general is a bad idea, said Insonnault.
“The darkening of the skin is the body’s way of indicating that damage has been done,” explained the doctor. “It may look pretty, but it’s best to avoid unprotected exposure to the sun.”
Furthermore, she added that skin damage is cumulative, meaning that the bad sunburn you got two summers ago is still affecting your body. The skin cancer foundation warns that a person’s chances of having a melanoma doubles if they have had five or more severe sunburns. UV exposure, which causes sunburns, damages the DNA in skin cells and if the harm is too severe, that’s when skin cancer may occur.
“All significant exposure to the sun causes damage,” said Insonnault. “Skin cancer appears over time as a result of these exposures. Therefore, the more exposure time, and the younger the damage is done, the sooner and more probable it is to develop cancer.” She also pointed out that severe sunburns that occur before the age of 25 are the most dangerous.
Inspecting oneself for skin cancer symptoms isn’t a very scientifically sound way to figure out if something is wrong, said Insonnault, but there are signs to watch out for. She recommends to look for the ABCDE’S: asymmetry, borders, color, diameter, and evolution.
“If you notice a lesion, or a beauty mark, for example, that is very bumpy and irregular, or find that the color is patchy, then those are signs that you should go see a dermatologist. If a beauty mark is larger than 6 millimeters, you should get it looked at. And if it changes in any way; gets bigger, changes color, becomes bumpy when it was smooth, then you should seek medical attention,” said Insonnault, adding that if it is a problem, doctors may have to do a biopsy, or completely cut the mass out of the skin before proceeding to further treatment.
People should be careful of the sun whether it is sunny or overcast, as UV rays are still present when it is cloudy. A useful trick, said the doctor, is to check the regions’ UV index. If it is a 3 or higher, it is recommended to wear sunscreen and stay in the shade, as there is risk of sunburn. Past a level 7, even dark skinned individuals are at risk for sunburns, according to Insonnault, and extra precautions should be taken.
Dr. Insonnault also stressed that people should protect their eyes from harmful rays using sunglasses or a wide brimmed hat, as sun exposure, especially for blue eyes, can cause cataracts. More tips include avoiding the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. as that is when the sun is the strongest. Water, sand and even concrete can reflect UV rays and make them more dangerous, so slather on the sunscreen.