Sunlight, Sun Damage and Protection from Radiation

There are five forms of radiation. Ranging from 100-1,000,000 nm in wavelength

Ultraviolet A (UVA)

• • • Referred to as the “near-uv” Closest to visible range Longer wavelength of 320-400 nanometers (nm)

Ultraviolet B (UVB)

• • The “sunburn” wavelength or Ultra Violet rays Intermediate wavelength of 280-320 nanometers ( nm)

Ultraviolet C (UVC)

• • • • • • • Shortest of ultraviolet wavelength Range of 100-280 nanometers Can effectively kill germs Germicidal wavelength Mountain climbers may experience burns from the UVC, as the ozone is being depleted Fluorescent lamps emit UVC

“Visible Light”

• • • Can be seen by the human eye Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet They are 400-760 nanometers

Infra Red Waves

• • • • Heat waves that warm us on when standing in the sun on a cold day is Infra Red Wavelengths Range in the 760 – 1800 (NM) Infra red adds damage to the harmful affects of UV Infra Red is emitted by stoves, furnaces, light bulbs, heat lamps, etc

Skin Damage From the Sun

• • • • • UVA – once considered harmless to the skin can creating a healthy tan UVA – exposure dries the skin Reaches deep into the dermis causing wrinkles, uneven skin tones, sagging skin, and broken capillaries, etc Cumulative damage and to UVA can lead to basal and squamous cell cancers Most widely used wavelength in tanning beds

Urocanic Acid

• • • • A molecule that is made by the outermost skin cells Found in naturally in the outermost skin cells and found in the epidermis Acts as a photo protectant as against UVB induced DNA damage Can be penetrated with UVA, when this occurs it can generate the formation of free radicals in the skin and cause sun damage

Ultra Violet Waves & Tanning Beds

• • • • UVA – highest level of used in tanning beds Most devices emit UVA radiation High-pressure tanning devices emit UVA almost exclusively Studies show as high as a 200% risk in melanoma when usage exceeds 50 hours, 100 sessions over 10 years

Skin Damage from the Sun Continued:

• • • UVB – causes skin redness and can result in sunburns UVB –skin damages the epidermis and promotes a thickening of the outer most skin layer Cumulative damage results in basal and squamous cell cancers

Skin Damage from the Sun Continued:

• • • • UVC – is the highest level of energy within the UV spectrum Tanning lamps are within this artificial source UVC – can cause burns with prolonged exposure Routine exposure can augment photo damage caused by natural UVC and UVB rays

Skin Damage from the Sun

• • • • Visible light is 50% of the sun’s radiation This energy level penetrates the skin into the dermis Chronic Infra Red exposure can lead to leaking blood vessels resulting in blotchy pigmentation Loss of elastin is another side effect

Langerhan Cells

• • • • • Located in epidermis Help fight against infection and cancer Play a role in the skin immune system Sunlight decreases the number of Langerhan Cells Increases risk of sun damage and cancer

Photo-sensitizing Drugs

• • • • Antibiotics medication can cause phototoxic reaction to skin When this happens they increase risk of sunburn Symptoms include inflammation and erythema Read label before exposing skin to sun or laser

Photoprotectants That Compose Broad Spectrum Sunscreens

• • • Organic sunscreens filter either UVB and UVA There are no organic filters that completely block the rays from the skin The protection offered by all sun protective products relates to the level of concentration, the thickness of film applied to the skin as well as the total coverage

Three Physical Blockers

• • • • • Indirect Physical Blockers are natural talcum and mica Polymers are substances from plants or semi natural derived from shells of shrimp or synthetic substances such as micronized nylon Polymers provide a maze that prevent some rays from reaching the skin Direct Physical Photo blockers are compounds such as Bismuth and Zinc oxide Zinc oxide is a excellent example of direct physical photo blocker

Cell Protectants – Anti-oxides

• • • Vitamin C - most effective anti-oxidant that protect from UVB and UVA damage Vitamin E – an oil soluble antioxidants that breaks the chain of reaction of free-radicals before they cause damage A combination of Vitamin C & Vitamin E offer a greater protection from cellular insult from UVA and UVB exposure

Skin Protection - Sunscreens

• • • • Broad spectrum sunscreen are the best protection from the UVB and UVA rays The SPF ( Sun Protection Factor) varies from product to product Higher SPF the better the protection factor Sun Protection Factor – is the time it takes UVB rays to cause reddening of the skin when sunscreen is applied as compared to no protection at all

Antioxidants

• • • Supplementing the body with topically applied antioxidants can provide protection from premature aging Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) applied to the skin prior to them sunscreens can add protection against photo damage and skin cancer.

Certain Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) can add up to 8 times the SPF, protect against photo damage and skin cancer, regenerates cells against

Niacin

• • • Niacinamide – clinical studies indicate protection to skin UV rays Suppress the transfer of melasomes and prevents hyper pigmentation

Lighter Skin

• Lighter skin and fair-haired people are at more risk of injury and DNA damage

Laser Patients Need Sun Protection

• • • • • An SPF of 25 is need to protect the tissue from photo damage cell damage Instruct patient to use daily, wear a hat, and clothing that will protect the area from additional sun exposure Reapplying sunscreen every 80 minutes is necessary Do not lay in the sun or tanning bed for 4-6 weeks before and after a laser treatment with 755 nm or 810 nm Patients using the nd.yag need to refrain from the sun for 1 week before and after, use SPF 25 daily e

FDA

• • • • FDA – new standard for effective labeling of sunscreen Broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) must include both SPF 15 or higher may state that reduction of risk of skin cancer and sunburn Products with less value or not broad spectrum must carry warning that the products has not been shown to prevent skin cancer or early skin aging