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Sunburns

2007.07.18

FROM ANNOYANCE TO CANCER
by Gilles Crevier

Moderation and avoiding peak hours are key to reducing the chance of sunburns. Overexposure to the sun's dangerous ultraviolet rays (UV) damages the skin. Burns caused by the sun can be the beginning of skin cancer. In 2005, more than 80,000 Canadians were diagnosed with skin cancer, according to Health Canada.

BURNS

Skin, The body's largest organ, is made of two parts, the demis and the epidermis. The average adult has 20 square meters of skin. When UV rays hit the skin, some cells absorb part of the light while others are damaged by it. To repair the damage, more blood reaches the affected area and the skin goes red. That's a sunburn.

PROTECTION

Seek shade and wear clothes and hats that will protect you from the sun's rays. Apply sunscreen with a minimum UV protection factor of 15 and reapply every two hours.

FIRST DEGREE BURN

A sunburn with signs of inflammation. It's a superficial burn. The skin takes on a pink tint, and then, tanning follows.

The Skin's surface turns red and is slightly swollen. Tingling sensation.

SECOND-DEGREE BURN

Skin changes to bright red two to 12 hours after sun exposure and becomes so sensitive that it can;t bear the rubbing of clothes.

Appearance of blisters. Pain. The epidermis is affected.

THIRD-DEGREE BURN

Skin turns brick red and blisters less than six hours after sun exposure. The skin is painful and swollen, and seems ready to peel.

Pieces of skin fall off. The peels off. The hypodermis is affected.

CANCER

Sunburn can lead to cancer. In Canada, skin cancer is rare among people age 40 and under, but becomes more common as people age. Virtually all skin cancers can be prevented and are curable in 95% of cases if caught early. Most are non-melanoma cancers that don't spread and are cured once cancerous lesions are removed. Sometimes fatal, malignant melanomas represent 2% of skin cancers and can spread quickly to other body organs. Skin cancer can take 10 years or more to develop from exposure to the sun.

Avoid the sun between 11am and 4pm, when the sun's ultraviolet rays are the most powerful.