“It’s only a suntan” or is it?
By : Joseph Lindo
Is the ‘healthy glow’ of a suntan good for babies and children? Is it good for adults? Hopefully by the time you have read this article you will have gained the knowledge to make up your own mind.
It was not until the 1920’s that the suntan became fashionable. Coco Chanel made it ‘Chic’ and the ‘must have’ item for individuals; thus denoting that the individual had money and could afford not to work but enjoy the trappings of their wealth in some sunny climbs. Previous to this ‘revelation’ folks went to extreme lengths to look pale, even putting on creams which we now know were highly toxic! Now the bronzed look in both men and women is seen to denote health; and people go to great lengths to get the right look, from normal sun worshiping, to sunbeds when the weather is not helping the situation to fake tans which can be rubbed in or sprayed on.
So what is a tan? Tanning, the darkening of the skin, is produced when UV rays from the sun trigger the production of the pigment melanin in the skin. Many parents say their children look healthier if they have a tan but rather than being a sign of a healthy process, getting a tan through sunbathing actually means that your skin has been damaged and is trying to protect itself.
This is a cross section of typical skin (like the skin on your arm or leg); it is made up of two main layers: the epidermis on the outside and the dermis on the inside. The epidermis is the barrier, while the dermis is the layer containing all the "equipment" - things like nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles and so on. Here's a picture to help you see what is going on:
Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, from the British Medical Association, writing for BUPA says that, "People need to be educated about the myths of tanning. A suntan is not a sign of good health. A tan, even when there's no burning, always means the skin has been damaged." Even though a tan will fade over time, the damage it has caused skin remains. This skin damage puts you at a greater risk of skin cancer and it also causes premature ageing.
Even in relatively sun-free countries like Britain, it can take a little as half an hour to get sunburn, and if by the coast where there is normally a slight breeze the cool feeling hides the fact that your skin is still being exposed to the sun. In the long term even short bouts of exposure might pose a serious threat to your health, and our knowledge of ultraviolet radiation and its effect on skin has increased rapidly in recent years.
What about the winter, well most people assume the winter sun is weaker and less dangerous than the summer sun and therefore do not wear proper sun protection. However, two recent studies show that if you’re at a higher altitude, for example, if you are fortunate enough to go away skiing, or even if just watching the skiing events, you still run the risk of developing sunburn. Studies in America suggest that a person with an average complexion, who is not wearing any sun protection, would burn after only six minutes of sun exposure on a clear day at noon in Vail Colorado at 11,000 feet above sea level. The same person would develop sunburn after 25 minutes of noontime exposure in New York or 14 minutes of unprotected noontime exposure in Orlando.
What are the risks?
· A child's skin is thinner and more sensitive and even a short time outdoors in the midday sun can result in serious burns.
· Epidemiological studies demonstrate that frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood set the stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.
· Children have more time to develop diseases with long latency, more years of life to be lost and more suffering to be endured as a result of impaired health. Increased life expectancy further adds to people's risk of developing skin cancers and cataracts.
· Children are more exposed to the sun. Estimates suggest that up to 80 per cent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV is received before the age of 18.
Children love playing outdoors but usually are not aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Repeated sunburns are now recognized as a major risk factor for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Sunlight is the primary cause of skin aging, wrinkles, blotchy pigmentation and skin cancer. In addition, many sun worshippers do not want to lose their seasonal "tan" and complement their sun exposure with tanning lamps; however, sunbeds mimic the effect of the sun by emitting UVA radiation and cause skin damage in the same way as normal sunbathing.
Children are in a dynamic state of growth, and are therefore more susceptible to environmental threats than adults. Many vital functions such as the immune system are not fully developed at birth, and unsafe environments may interfere with their normal development. But most environmental hazards are preventable: reducing exposure is the most effective way of protecting children's health. If you are a child and get sunburnt, your risk of developing skin cancer later in life is much greater than if the sunburn happens to an adult – despite warnings to parents, most seem to ignore the risks and like to see their kids with a tan. In fact a survey carried out by Cancer Research UK in 2004 found that 33% of parents questioned admitted that their child had experienced sunburn. The majority also knew of the skin cancer risks to the child.
Caring for children in the sun
According to an Australian study, four out of five cases of skin cancer are preventable by sensible behaviour. Encouraging children to take simple precautions will prevent both short-term and long-term damage while still allowing them to enjoy the time they spend outdoors. Parents should serve as role models, and it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are protected adequately. Always keep infants of less than 12 months in the shade and babies under 6 months should be kept out if the direct sunlight completely; also ensure sure that your children:
· Cover up with protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
· Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15+.
· Limit their time in the midday sun.
· Seek shade – especially between 11am and 3pm
Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours. (usual age limit is 18)
Shade, clothing and hats provide the best protection for children - applying sunscreen becomes necessary on those parts of the body that remain exposed like the face and hands. Sunscreen should never be used to prolong the duration of sun exposure.