Summer Is Over But Skin Cancer Is Not!

Summer Is Over But Skin Cancer Is Not!

06 Nov 2007 A new warning on skin safety was released by Crown Laboratories to draw attention to the fact that while summer is over, the high risk of skin cancer development is not.

"Many people still don't understand the difference between Ultraviolet-A rays (UVA) and Ultraviolet-B rays (UVB)," said Don Kilday, Doctor of Pharmacy and President of Crown Laboratories Inc., the manufacturer of the popular Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, located in Johnson City, Tennessee. Kilday added, "UVA is just as strong during the winter months as during the summer months. No matter what the temperature is outside, there is always a risk of sun damage on unprotected skin."

Even though you may not be expecting sun damage during the winter season, the UVA rays are still strong and deeply penetrate exposed skin. Although most U.S. sunscreens protect consumers from the UVB spectrum, it's the UVA rays that are most harmful because they penetrate deeper into the tissue causing damage. Kilday notes that a true broad-spectrum sunscreen containing at least 6% Zinc Oxide, with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used on areas of the body that are not concealed by clothing. This helps prevent wrinkles, skin spots and the biggest concern, skin cancer.

Oral medications, such as antibiotics, etc. plus many skin care products containing Alpha Hydroxy acids, Retin-A and other ingredients also heighten the risk of sunburn from UVA exposure.

"The skin is very vulnerable to sun exposure year round," says Kilday. "Education and making sun safety a daily regimen 365 days a year are the best defense against skin cancer." In addition, a recent study published on Springer Link, suggests that UVB rays are strongest in summer, but that the more harmful UVA rays show no noteworthy seasonal variation and are equally as strong in the winter months as they are in the summer months.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and there will be one million new cases diagnosed in the United States this year. New cases of the deadly form of Melanoma will account for around 59,940 cases and of that number 10,850 will account in death. When detected in the early stages, Melanoma is almost always curable. Preventing and detecting the early stages of skin cancer through education, protection and proper sun safety tips will save lives.