3 signs of sun-damaged skin
By Jet Hall
TThe summer sun su
beckons many people outdoors. Soaking
ing up some rays on on
a warm summer day can be a great way
to unwind and get a
a little color.
It’s It’s not not always
always easy to recognize signs of sun damage
when spending time outdoors in the summer, especially
for people who lay out in the sun hoping to get a tan. Such
damage may be overlooked or more evident in the fall, when
people begin spending more time indoors. But sun-damaged
skin should not be taken lightly. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation
notes that the vast majority of melanomas, the most
dangerous form of skin cancer, are caused by the sun. The
SCF even notes that one study from researchers in the United
Kingdom found that 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed
to exposure to the ultraviolet, or UV, radiation from the
sun.
Sun-damaged skin will not necessarily lead to skin cancer,
however, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that
it can. Going outdoors without adequate protection makes
skin vulnerable to sun-related damage. Learning to recognize
three of the more common types of sun damage may compel
people visit their physicians and take potentially life-saving
steps to prevent future damage.
Wrinkles aren’t always a byproduct of aging.
While the Mayo Clinic notes that skin becomes less elastic and
more fragile as it ages, increasing the likelihood that wrinkles
will develop, wrinkles also can indicate sun-damaged skin.
According to the AAD, age spots, which are
of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, including
the face and hands. The AAD notes that what looks like an
age spot could actually be skin cancer. If any such spots are
-
matologist for a through skin exam.
Loose skin is sometimes a byproduct of
aging, but it also can be indicative of sun damage. Various
products claim to treat loose skin, but the AAD notes that
facelift-like results likely won’t come from any product sold
creams will be subtle at best. Products that contain a retinoid
like retinol, which can help the body make more collagen,
might produce minor results.
Sun-related skin damage can affect peoples’ appearance
and even suggest the presence of something more serious,
such as skin cancer. Learn more by visiting the American
Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every
three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer. As troubling as
that may seem, it might not give the full picture as to the prevalence
of skin cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research
notes that estimating skin cancer incidence is uniquely
challenging because of the sheer volume of sub-types of
skin cancer. The AICR says that non-melanoma skin cancer
is often not tracked by cancer registries, and even when it
is, many registrations are incomplete because most cases of
non-melanoma skin cancer are successfully treated. So skin
cancer might be even more prevalent today than statistics indicate,
and the WHO notes it may only become more so in
coming decades due to ozone depletion. As ozone levels are
depleted, the atmosphere loses more and more of its protec-
Earth’s surface, leading to a spike in skin cancer rates. In fact,
the WHO estimates that a 10 percent decrease in ozone levels
could result in 300,000 additional cases of non-melanoma
skin cancers and 4,500 more cases of melanoma skin cancers.
The good news is that scientists with NASA recently documented
direct proof that the Antarctic ozone is recovering, a
36 • EXPO EDITION 2019 813.682.9364
/www.aad.org