SLIP, SLOP, SLAP is your best defence
Ultra violet radiation from the sun is known to contribute to skin conditions such as cancer and premature aging and to eye problems such as macular degeneration. Medical specialists recommend that we guard ourselves against harmful effects of the sun. They say our best line of defence is to SLIP, SLOP and SLAP.
 
SLIP- Slip on tightly woven sun protective clothing, like NoZone. Protective clothing should cover your arms and legs.
SLOP - Slop on the sunscreen or sun block with a minimum SPF rating of 15.
SLAP- Slap on a hat, preferably one with a wide-brim or a Keppie hat with a flap to protect your face and ears, as well as the back of your neck from being burned.
 
Another key element of your sun-protection strategy should be SEEK. During peak sunshine hours, between 11 am and 4 pm, find shade under an umbrella or a tree with a thick covering of leaves.
 
When playing or working outside remember to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP and SEEK to prevent sun damage to your skin and eyes. Keep reading to find out why it is important to protect yourself against the sun and ultra violet radiation.
 
What is sunshine?
The sun is one of more than 100 billion stars in the solar system. It is the nearest star to the Earth, approximately 149,600,000 kilometers, or 93,000,000 miles away. Due to nuclear activity, it is 15.6 million Kelvin at the Sun’s core. In every second, 700 billion hydrogen atoms fuse under the immense pressure in the sun’s core to produce helium. Only 0.7% of these atoms are turned into light. Sunshine is heat and light energy that is released as hydrogen atoms fuse to make helium.
 
What is UV radiation?
Light energy, or radiation, from the sun is emitted as electromagnetic waves known as ultra-violet (UV) radiation towards the Earth. There are three categories of UV waves based on wavelength:
 
UVA waves are the longest of the three types of UV radiation. They are not absorbed by the ozone layer and contribute to suntans, eye damage, and premature aging.
UVB waves are shorter than UVA waves, and are partially absorbed by the ozone layer. UVB waves contribute to sunburns, snow blindness, premature aging, and skin cancers.
UVC waves, the shortest of the three types, are completely absorbed by the ozone layer.  Fortunately, UVC radiation does not reach the Earth, it is said to be dangerous to all life forms.
 
The shorter the wavelength, the more harmful it is to humans and other organisms on Earth.
 
When is it safe to play or work outside on a sunny day?
It is generally recommended to avoid being out in the sun during the middle of the day. In the summer, at mid-latitudes, the sun is most intense from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Remember that UVA and UVB rays can pass through clouds and fog, so it is important to protect yourself on cloudy and foggy days too.
 
Are there particular conditions that intensify UV radiation?
The effects of UVA and UVB radiation are intensified under particular environmental and geographic conditions. Be aware that UV radiation is intensified when reflected off snow, ice, water, sand and pavement. UV radiation is especially intense at high altitudes, for example in the mountains, as well as at low latitudes around the Equator.
 
What is skin?
Knowing what your skin is will help you understand how UV radiation affects it. Skin, the body’s largest organ, serves as a shield against ultraviolet radiation, injury to internal organs, water-loss and infections. The skin has two layers:
1)       Epidermis- the top layer of skin is called the epidermis. The upper epidermis is composed of flat, scaly squamous cells and the protein keratin. Deeper in the epidermis are basal cells and melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin.
2)      Dermis- below the epidermis is the dermis, which contains blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands, oil glands, nerves, lymphatic vessels and proteins such as collagen and elastin.
The skin is the shell you have to live in for the rest of your life. Treat it with respect: SLIP, SLOP, SLAP and SEEK.
 
What is a suntan?
A tan is your skin’s response to UV exposure and is evidence of sun damage. Technically, melanocyte cells of the skin produce the pigment melanin that darken the skin and protect against further sun damage.
 
What is a sunburn?
Over-exposure to UV radiation results in deep skin-tissue damage known as erythema, or sunburn. The visible result is painful red skin sometimes accompanied by blistering or swelling and symptoms of sunstroke. Skin redness is caused by the body’s immune response of increased blood flow to the capillaries in the injured areas. The invisible result of sunburns occurs at the cellular level as damage to the skin’s DNA. The visible and invisible effects of sunburns are cumulative; each time you experience a sunburn you increase your risk of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
 
What is skin cancer?
The body is covered almost entirely by skin; it is no wonder that the occurrence of skin cancers is more prevalent than other cancers. Skin cancer is a malignant tumour of the skin; it accounts for 40% of all recorded cancer cases with approximately 1.3 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
 
There are two major groups of skin cancer: non-melanoma and malignant melanoma.
 
Non-melanoma- Non-melanoma cancers are more common than melanoma cancer and are divided into two types:
 
Basal cell- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common skin cancer, takes place in the basal cells of the dermis. BCC occurs mainly, but not exclusively, in areas of skin that are exposed to the sun- the scalp, face, ears, neck, shoulders and back and does not spread to other parts of the body. The main cause of BCC is chronic sun exposure; other causes include exposure to arsenic and radiation. Many physical signs indicate BCC: craters in the skin with a shiny or pearly surface, taught and shiny scar-like areas, pink crusted indentations with a rolled border, a shiny bump, and a non-healing open sore. This type of cancer can be treated with a high success rate.
Squamous cell- Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. It takes place in the squamous cells of the epidermis in the same areas of the body listed for basal cell carcinoma. If squamous cell cancer goes undetected, it can spread to other parts of the body. The main cause is chronic sun exposure; other causes include skin damage such as burns, scars and chronic skin inflammation. Squamous cell carcinoma can also arise spontaneously. This type of cancer appears as a scaly reddish bump on the skin. This type of cancer can be treated with a high success rate.
 
Malignant melanoma- Melanoma is a term that describes the tumour created by a cluster of melanocytes in the skin. This cluster, called a nevi or mole, will most frequently appear black or brown as it contains the pigment melanin. These moles can be found anywhere on the body. While the cause of all cases of malignant melanoma is not known, scientists say that chronic UV exposure and sunburns contribute to most cases. Malignant melanoma is less common than non-melanoma cancers; however, it is the most serious type of skin cancer. It is considered the most fatal because tumours can become invasive and can spread to other areas of the body. If detected and removed early it is 100% curable.
 
What other effects can UV radiation have on your skin?
Exposure to UVA and UVB is the leading cause of the following skin conditions:
 
Wrinkles and premature aging - UVA radiation penetrates the skin and causes permanently damage the protein collagen deep below the skin’s surface. Collagen is responsible for maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity; when it is damaged, skin is no longer smooth, but wrinkled.
Freckles - Ephelides, commonly known as freckles, may turn darker and larger when exposed to UV radiation in people who have inherited freckled skin.
Sunspots - Excessive sun exposure is the cause of lentigines, also known as sunspots or age spots. Sunspots are superficial collections of the pigment melanin in the epidermis, or the top layer of skin and typically appear on people over 40. Sunspots are brown, tan or black spots on the skin of the shoulders, chest, backs of the hand, face and legs.
 
Sun damage to the skin is chronic and irreversible. Remember to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP and SEEK while you work and play outside!
 
What are the effects of UV radiation on your eyes?
Exposure to UVA and UVB radiation can cause serious damage to your eyes. UV radiation is responsible for many types of damage to the eye:
 
Cataract - is the opacification, or clouding, of the normally clear lens of the eye. There are many causes and long-term sun exposure is one of them.
Photokeratitis - also known as snow-blindness and welder’s flash, photokeratitis is like a sunburn of the eye. It is caused by intense light, for example sunshine reflected off snow, sea or sand, or the arc of a welder’s torch. Symptoms, including temporary vision-loss and a feeling that there is sand in the eye, last one or two days.
Pterygia and Pingueculae - are white or yellow bumps on the conjunctiva, the white of the eye. They are caused mainly by exposure to the sun and are usually benign.
Macular degeneration - is a group of diseases that occur in the macular zone of the retina and are associated with aging. Symptoms include the loss of precise vision and distorted lines. While the exact cause is unknown, the body of evidence that links UV exposure to macular degeneration is growing.
 
Protecting your eyes from the sun is simple: wear even-coloured sunglasses that block 99-100% UVA and UVB radiation. They don't have to be expensive; in fact, they don't even have to be coloured. If the lenses are marked as UV-blocking, you can be certain that they will protect your eyes against UV. Sunglasses that wrap around the eyes are ideal. Remember also to SLAP on that hat, it will block approximately 50% of the UV that would otherwise reach your eyes.
 
Is it true that we need sunshine to stay healthy?
It is true the body requires some UV radiation to stay healthy. Short exposure to UV radiation is required to help the body synthesize Vitamin D, a vitamin that is important in metabolizing calcium. Calcium is required in the body to prevent rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. It is important not to over-expose yourself to the sun; experts say even those of us who SLIP, SLOP, SLAP and SEEK get enough ultraviolet radiation for the purpose of Vitamin D synthesis.