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Broad-Spectrum Ultraviolet Radiation

Peer Review Status: Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Information Service
First Published: 2003
Last Revised: September 2003

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recently published its 10th annual list of substances linked to cancer. Broad-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial light sources was added as a known carcinogen.

Dermatologists have known for years that UV rays can cause skin cancer. This just made it official. The president of the American Academy of Dermatology, Fred Castrow II, MD, stated that this official status of UV rays as being a carcinogen, should be a wake-up call to people who continue to tan, through natural sunlight or artificial sources.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 1 million new cases of squamous and basal cell cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. It is estimated that 54,200 people in the United States will be diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In 2003, approximately 7,600 deaths will be attributed to melanoma.

There are ways to protect the skin from the harmful UV rays when work and leisure activities keep you out in the sun. Use of sunscreen on all exposed skin areas is recommended, as they are very effective in the prevention of sunburn and ultraviolet light damage. Sunscreens are labeled with a sun protection factor (SPF). The higher the SPF, the greater the protection against sun rays.

• When using an SPF 15 lotion, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, you should be protected from burn for 150 minutes.
• Lotions are usually the most appealing, as they moisturize the skin while protecting from sun damage.
• Sunscreen gels are best for work or physical activities when you will be perspiring.
• Sunscreen sprays are a quick and easy way to apply protection to large areas of the body.
• All sunscreens should be reapplied if sweating, swimming or if you expect to spend a long time in the sun.
• It is best to apply sunscreen thirty minutes before light exposure.

Some other facts/tips to prevent sun damage/skin cancer:

• Avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun is the most intense.
• Wear sensible protective clothing--broad brimmed hat, long sleeve shirts, long pants.
• Indoor tanning can cause skin damage because tanning devices emit ultraviolet rays. Tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burn from ultraviolet rays. Overexposure to these rays can cause eye injury and increases your chance of developing skin cancer.