SUN SAFETY - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

SUN SAFETY

Notes

taken

from Project Safety Teacher’s Guide, 2001Slide2

The Skin

Made up of dermis and epidermis

Dermis:

deepest layer of skin, contains blood and lymphatic vessels

Epidermis:

outer later of skin, made up of basal cells (at the base of this layer), squamous cells (flat cells) and melanocytes (produce melanin which produces a pigment/tan)

You shed your skin cells, the entire outer layer of skin (epidermis) is replaced every 15-30 days.Slide3

Skin Cancer

3 kinds of skin cancer

Basal cell carcinoma: most common type, starts in basal cells, slow growing, seldom spreads, do not leave untreated, treated by cutting the cancer out of the body, or freezing and scrapping off body.

Squamous cell carcinoma: second most common type, starts in squamous cells, starts as a nodule or red patch, may metastasize if untreated, treated

by cutting the cancer out of the body, or freezing and scrapping off body

.

Melanoma: most deadly type of skin cancer, starts in melanocytes, blistering sunburns before the age of 18 increase chances of getting melanoma, at greater risk for getting melanomas in future, even after treated. Treated by surgery to cut out of body, early detection is critical. Mostly likely to show up on soles of feet, hands, under fingernails and toenails, in mouth.Slide4

Increased Incidence

1 in 5 people in the US will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, 1 in 3 people who live in the sunbelt.

Sunbelt: states that

lie

below 37°N latitude, 16 states

Australia: 2 out of 3 people develop melanoma

M

ost cases are in north Australia (closer to equator)

Hole in ozone layer above Australia, UV rays are not screened out as well.

Not too many cases in Asian countries, even though they are near the equator, because pale/fair skin is considered a criterion for beauty.

Increase in cases in the NW: many outdoor activities, high altitude, cloudy so people don’t wear sunscreen.Slide5

Tans, UV rays & Tanning Beds

What is a tan: melanocytes react to sun exposure by releasing melanin (pigment) because melanin absorbs UV rays. A tan is a sign of skin damage.

UVC rays cannot reach earth

UVB rays, less reach earth, they cause blistering sunburns, impair immune system

UVA rays cause premature aging of skin, eye damage and impair immune system. Penetrate skin more deeply than UVB, damage cells in epidermis and dermis

Tanning beds use UVA rays since they go deeper into the skin. Long term tanning bed users are 8 times more likely to get melanoma.Slide6

Myths about tanning

“Tanning indoors is safer than tanning in the sun.”

Indoor tanning and tanning outside are both dangerous. Although tanning beds operate on a timer, the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can vary based on the age and type of light bulbs. You can still get a burn from tanning indoors, and even a tan indicates damage to your skin. Tanning beds cause about 1,800 injuries requiring visits to the emergency room every year.

“I can use a tanning bed to get a base tan, which will protect me from getting a sunburn.”

A tan is a response to injury: skin cells respond to damage from UV rays by producing more pigment.

Banning Tanning

California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont have banned the use of tanning beds by minors.

Brazil and one state in Australia (New South Wales) have banned the use of tanning beds.

The United Kingdom, Germany, Scotland, France, several Australian states, and several Canadian provinces have banned indoor tanning for people younger than age 18.Slide7

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for developing cancer is exposure to UV radiation

Avoidable risk factors

Sun exposure, especially before the age of 18

Unavoidable risk factors

Family history

Geographic location

Tendency to freckle or burn

Hair and skin type

Skin Types

Type 1 – always burns, never tans, red or blonde hair, freckles

Type II – skin burns easily, tans little. Fair skinned.

Type III-Skin burns occasionally, gradually tans.

Type IV – minimal burning, always tans. Light to medium skin pigmentation.

Type V – seldom burns, always tans. Medium to heavy pigmentation.

Type VI – seldom burns, tans darkly. Heavy pigmentation.Slide8

ABCDEs of Melanoma

Melanoma lesions often originate from existing moles. Follow the patter of ABCDEs when looking at the characteristics of moles.

A

symmetry – if the

lesions

were folded in half, the side would not match.

B

order irregularity – these lesions have jagged, scalloped, notched or blurred edges, rather than a smooth continuous line.

C

olor variation – 2 or more different colors

D

iameter – any sudden or continuing growth in size of mole, concern for lesions with a diameter of 6mm or larger (size of a pencil eraser)

E

volution – has this mole changed over timeSlide9

Sun Exposure

Avoid sun exposure between 10am-4pm, that is when the UV rays are more direct.

Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outside

Try to find shade when outside

You can get a sun burn on a cloudy day

Wear sunglasses with lenses that filter out UVA and UVB rays

Some medications make you more sensitive to the sun

Look out for reflective surfaces as they can reflect UV radiation back to you:

Concrete 10-15%

Water – 100%

Asphalt – 7-8%

Grass 3-5%

Sand 15-30%

Snow 85%Slide10

Sun

P

rotection

F

actor

Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go in the sun, SPF 15+

Reapply after swimming and sweating, or toweling off

SPF is the amount of time the sunscreen will protect you, use the equation: time it takes for your skin to turn red in the sun X the SPF number = minutes of protection.

Example 5 (min) X 15 (SPF) = 75 (minutes of protection)

Wear clothes that protect you, and always wear a hat

Cotton shirt – SPF 7

Cotton/polyester shirt – SPF 15

Denim jeans – SPF 95-100

Polyester/lycra surf shirt – SPF 35