Taylor Tate

Sitting out in the sun and getting a bronze glow can be tempting in the summer but what comes with long periods of exposure can be deadly. Dr. Bligard from UnityPoint Health 12 Ways the Sun Effects Us: Positive & Harmful  says that the worst effect from the sun is increase risk of developing skin cancer.” Bligard says the worst consequence of long-term exposure to the sun is the development of skin cancer. “Because the sun damage to the skin develops over years, the older you are, the greater the risk of developing skin cancer.”

Not only is sitting out in the sun for long periods of time risky when it comes to your health, but tanning beds have been proven to be a problem as well. According to Lisa Phipps, MD of skincancer.org  tanning beds are the equivalent of sitting out in the sun when it comes to potentially developing skin cancer. She says, “Where to begin? First, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or from a tanning bed, is a carcinogen, just like cigarettes are a carcinogen. Both can cause cancer. And just as there’s no safe amount of smoking, you can’t get a little safe tan.”

Chipps later talks about just a few of the diagnoses you could be exposing yourself to from tanning beds at an early age. “In fact, people who have ever used a tanning bed have a 67% increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and a 29 percent increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma. People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk of melanoma by 75 percent.” Chipps adds, “Melanoma is being diagnosed more often in women in their early 20s, and a lot of that is attributed to tanning bed use. That’s one of the reasons many states have either banned or restricted their use for minors.”

In college we want to look our best but we could also take into account feeling our best and doing whats best for our health and our skin. If we can minimize putting ourselves in danger to various different diseases from UV radiation at an early age, we should.

Protecting our skin is important, so let’s talk protection when being out in the sun. At Experts Share the Best Methods for Summer Sun Protection, Dr. Mariana Phillips, a dermatologist on the faculty of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Carlin Rafie, an extension specialist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, go over safety regulations for protecting yourself against exposure to the sun.

Dr. Phillips provides a easy step by step list of possible ways from our skin to stay safe this summer,

•  Wear clothing that covers the arms and legs
•  Wear a wide brim hat the shades the face, ears, and neck
•  Wear wrap around sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection
•  Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

Phillips also goes over a important tool that is used a lot when going outside in the sun, but may be overlooked or many may not be aware how to use, sunscreen.

•  Use sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater
•  Apply 15 minutes before going outside
•  Apply enough to cover exposed skin. Many people do not apply sunscreen thickly enough.
•  Reapply sunscreen every two hours; more often if sweating or in and out of water.

Lastly it’s important to know who is more at risk for skin cancer. Everyone is susceptible to getting skin damage from the sun but some are more likely than others. Dr. Mariana Philips talks about it,

•  Lighter natural skin color
•  Skin that burns easily in the sun
•  People with blue or green eyes, blond or red hair
•  A family or personal history of skin cancer
•  Older age

Now that you are an informed reader about the effects being exposed to harsh UV rays and tanning beds, as well as ways to prevent different skin diseases from a young age, you can go out in the sun and be informed, prepared and keep your skin safe.