It’s getting sunnier, climate change is progressing. Skin cancer rates are rising, UV radiation is the most important risk factor for skin cancer. Everyone is at risk, but especially athletes, so-called outdoor workers and people over 70. What strategies can we use to protect ourselves from increased UV exposure? An interview with Prof. Dr. med. Carola Berking, Erlangen (Germany).
UV protection is becoming an increasingly important issue. With each additional day of sunshine, the time during which people can be exposed to UV radiation increases. In 2022, there were 161 more hours of sunshine. Does increased radiation exposure increase the risk of skin cancer? How can we effectively protect ourselves from too much UV radiation in everyday life?
Prof. Dr. med. Carola Berking: We need to become more aware of the harmfulness of UV radiation. The UV index, which is published daily by the German Weather Service, provides an indication. The higher the number, the more radiation exposure. We would like to increase awareness by making the UV index even more visible, for example through displays in public places, beaches or outdoor swimming pools. The first measure to protect yourself from UV radiation is to avoid activities in the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and to move leisure activities to the morning or evening hours. Another option is sunscreen. Here I would actually advise using products with sun protection factor 50 plus. Whether these are applied as a spray or gel is less important than applying them to the entire surface, for example, not forgetting the auricles. The lower lip is also very often ignored. In addition, don’t forget to reapply cream. Sweating or contact with water reduces the protective effect.
Humans cannot perceive UV radiation. So that we know when we need to protect ourselves, attempts are being made to visualize and display the UV index. Which measures make sense?
UV protection education in kindergartens must be strengthened. Even children need to be taught about the harmful effects of the sun’s rays so that even the youngest children understand that they are not doing themselves any good if they get sunburnt. The best way to protect yourself is to wear clothing, a sun hat or cap that also covers your neck and ears if possible. It is also important to wear sunglasses with UV protection 400 to protect the eye from UV damage, especially to the lens and the back of the eye.
UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancer. At the same time, vitamin D is formed with the help of the sun’s rays. How can we ensure sufficient vitamin D levels and protect ourselves from the sun at the same time?
Our body needs a certain amount of UV radiation to be able to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D, in turn, is important for bone metabolism. However, it is a fallacy to go to a solarium or go into direct sunlight without protection. To replenish your stores, it is enough to go out in the sun about three times a week with unprotected forearms or face. Under no circumstances, however, until reddening occurs; a maximum of 5 minutes is sufficient for a light skin type. These skin types do not develop any self-protection through tanning. Even in the shade, we are not completely shielded from UV radiation. Particularly light-colored floors reflect up to 30% of UV radiation, especially snow, water or sand. This is why protection is so important on sunny days, even if you are in the shade.
People are often unsettled by talk of harmful UV filters such as octocrylene. How harmful are they really?
Our sun creams are well below the specified limits. This means that a sunscreen usually consists of several filters and not just one in a very high dose, but many filters in a very low dose, which reduces the risk of toxic damage. The sum of the various low-dose UV filters then makes up the protection. However, as we only apply the sun cream and do not eat it or even inject it under the skin, there is hardly any danger to the cells. The skin itself consists of several layers, so that only very few of the ingredients can actually get into our system and endanger it.
Vacation pleasures often include long periods spent outdoors. Can the skin be reasonably acclimatized to the sun? It used to be said that you should eat lots of carrots.
The consumption of foods containing carotene is healthy, but ineffective in UV protection. It is better to consciously deal with the sun in order to be better prepared. People with an open-air profession such as construction workers, roofers or lifeguards, who are exposed to much more UV radiation, only achieve a sun protection factor of 1.5 despite being constantly exposed to the sun. We therefore recommend sun protection products and clothing here too. Your skin should never turn red, then you have already done a lot for your UV protection and skin cancer prevention.
Source: «Gefährliche UV-Strahlung: Wie können wir uns schützen? Hautkrebsrisiko steigt durch Klimawandel», ADO.
InFo ONKOLOGIE & HÄMATOLOGIE 2023, 11(5): 23
