Why is the sun so bad for my skin?
The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems.
Being in the sun often over time, even if you don’t burn, can lead to skin cancer. A tan is the body’s attempt to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays.
On what parts of the body is skin cancer most likely to occur?
Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun. These areas include the head, neck, face, tips of the ears, hands, forearms, shoulders, back, chests of men, and the back and lower legs of women.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?
A number of factors may put you at higher risk of having skin cancer:
Having fair skin, red or blond hair
Having light-colored eyes
Sunburning easily
Having many moles, freckles or birthmarks
Working or playing outside
Being in the sun a lot as a child
Having had a serious sunburn
Having had skin cancer, or having family members who have had skin cancer
Tanning in the sun or with a sunlamp
How can I prevent skin cancer?
The key is to avoid being in the sun or using sunlamps. If you’re going to be in the sun for any length of time, wear clothes made from tight-woven fabric so the sun’s rays can’t get through to your skin, and stay in the shade when you can. Wear long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck, shoulders and ears.
Remember that clouds and water won’t protect you–60% to 80% of the sun’s rays go through clouds and can reach swimmers at least one foot below the surface of the water. The sun’s rays can also reflect off water, snow and white sand.
Years of sun exposure plays havoc with your skin. Besides skin discoloration from red and brown spots, enlarged pores, and collagen breakdown, you may develop more serious conditions that can threaten your well being.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has multiple applications. Besides being effective for reversing the results of sun damage mentioned above, it is an FDA approved treatment for pre-cancerous Actinic Keratosis. PDT is available at Padilla MD Family Practice.
Excepted from: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/risk/159.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0001