Doctor discusses myths about sun exposure and sunburn

As the weather grows warmer and more people spend longer periods of time outside in the sun, it's important to understand the dangers of sun exposure. "Ultraviolet radiation is a known carcinogen, which means, similar to cigarette smoking, it can cause lasting damage to the body," said Dr. Holly Kanavy, assistant professor of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of pharmacology at Montefiore Health System. Kanavy discussed five myths people often believe about sun damage:

Myth 1: Some people believe they only need to protect themselves from the sun during peak hours. Although extra precautions should be taken between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., people are susceptible to damage from the sun anytime it's out.

Myth 2: Some people think if children do not get burned, they must be wearing enough sunblock. However, young children are particularly susceptible to sun damage and should wear and reapply SPF 30 or higher sunblock. Hats and sunglasses as well as clothing are also helpful, but wet clothes don't offer much protection from the sun.

Myth 3: Some individuals think sun exposure is required to obtain vitamin D. In truth, it only takes 10-15 minutes of sun exposure several times per week. Some people do not wear sunscreen because they're trying to get vitamin D. However, that isn't necessary because it takes sunscreen about 20 minutes to start working, and people can get their vitamin D intake during that time. Also the vitamin can be acquired through certain foods.

Myth 4: Some people believe that the only important factor to look for in sunscreen is the SPF. However, people should make sure their sunblock protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays age the skin and can cause skin cancer. To make sure a sunblock protects against both kinds of rays, look for the words "broad spectrum" and ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide.

Myth 5: Some people think sun protection is unnecessary indoors or on cold days. However, temperature doesn't affect radiation, and UVA rays can go through clouds and glass. UVA rays don't cause tanning, but can cause damage.

Kanavy also recommended steps to take after getting sunburn. "Immediately after a burn, take a cool shower and keep the burn moisturized," he said. "Ingredients like vitamin C and vitamin E can help control damage."

Many Americans still don't use sunscreen, which has been proven to prevent skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S.

Sunscreen has been proven to reduce the risk for all types of skin cancer and to prevent or delay signs of aging, but most Americans still don't use it regularly, according to a new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that only 14 percent of men and 30 percent of women regularly use sunscreen both on their face and other exposed areas. It also showed that more than 40 percent of men and 27 percent of women never use sunscreen on their face or other areas of exposed skin when outdoors for an hour or more, Carrie Myers reports for HealthDay News.

"The overwhelming majority of melanomas -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- and non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun," Dr. Deborah Sarnoff, senior vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation, told Myers. "That's why daily sun protection is critical," she said.

The foundation recommends that when you are out in the sun you should seek shade, wear protective clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat, wear UV-blocking sunglasses and wear a broad-spectrum daily sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher and is water-resistant,of which you should check the expiration date, Sarnoff told Myers.

The study also found that nearly 40 percent of sunscreen users didn't know whether their sunscreen provided broad-spectrum protection.

"Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns, while UVA rays go deeper into the skin, causing sagging and wrinkling. It is believed that both UVA and UVB rays play a role in skin cancer," Myers writes.

"To take advantage of the full protection your sunscreen offers, it should be applied thickly to all exposed skin and reapplied every two hours and after swimming, sweating, and toweling off," Dawn Holman, lead author of the study, told Myers. "Sunscreen is most effective when paired with other forms of sun protection."

Holman recommended products with physical blocks, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, for those who shy away from sunscreens because they fear the chemicals in them. She also told Myers that everyone should avoid midday sun exposure because that is when the UV rays are most intense and encouraged people to check the UV index before going outdoors, saying, "The higher the UV index, the more sun protection you will need."

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the CDC. The most severe form, melanoma, causes more than 9,000 deaths a year in the United States, Myers reports.

Teens continue to use indoor tanning, in spite of risks; Ky. law lax

Kentucky teenagers are continuing to use indoor tanning in spite of the risks. Though tanning-bed use by children is illegal in 17 states and Washington, D.C., it is allowed in Kentucky. The Kentucky House passed a bill that would have made it illegal for those under 18 to use tanning beds, but it didn't pass the Senate. The law allows those under 14 to use tanning beds if accompanied by an adult, and those 14 to 18 can if they have a parental consent form.

Having a tan is a popular trend for those attending prom and other events like dances and graduation parties, Christine Fellingham writes for The Courier-Journal. "Usually, I go to a tanning bed before a dance," Naomi Popa, a 17-year-old Kentucky Country Day senior and occasional indoor tanner, told her. "I think it all started when one person went. Then everyone started going. If you're the only one who doesn't, you look so pale in comparison."

They continue tanning, even though doing so increases the risk of getting cancer. "Tanning-bed use can increase your risk of skin cancer by 59 percent," said Dr. Tamela Cassis, a Louisville dermatologist. In June the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning that minors shouldn't use tanning beds, and eventually all tanning beds will include a "black box" warning saying that those younger than 18 shouldn't use them, Fellingham notes.

Not everyone will pay attention. "We talk to parents and teens about the dangers of tanning all day long," Cassis said. "The youngest person I've treated to date for skin cancer was 16 years old. It required a wide local excision to cut it out. . . . It has made everyone in the family so much more aware. And like everyone else we see with skin cancer, he wishes he could take back the bad choices he made."

Young people face a lot of peer pressure to be tan because they often associate being tan with being attractive. According to a 2013 American Academy of Dermatology survey, 80 percent of people under 25 said they believe they look better with a tan. "I feel more confident with a tan," Popa said. "My skin clears up; I don't need as much makeup. I think I look better."

According to the academy, 2.3 million teens tan indoors every year, and 71 percent of those who use tanning salons are girls and women ages 16 to 29. In the past 40 years, skin cancer among females has increased eightfold, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.  (Read more)