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heading south? don't forget to protect your skin

skin cancer, melasma and rosacea are three good reasons to protect your skin from the sun.

by frances krawiec

nov 29 2022

5 minute read

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diet, exercise and staying hydrated also keeps skin healthy

studies have shown that more than enough vitamin d is absorbed by the skin when sunscreen is used. getty

discussions about sun exposure and skin damage may seem like an old topic, but the effects can be so significant, it’s worth exploring again.

the skin is the largest body organ, making up approximately 15 per cent of our body weight. the skin acts as a defence, providing a protective barrier for not only the body, but also for organs, while performing other important functions for health and well-being. the skin provides some immune functions, helps to maintain body temperature, protects us from bacteria, secretes excess oil and sweat, synthesizes vitamin d and provides sensory information that helps us to understand the world around us.

unlike other organs, the skin is most exposed to extrinsic aging factors (sun, pollutants, hydration, smoking, diet, skin care products) — particularly photo-aging (when the sun prematurely ages the skin).

the sun isn’t the only thing that’s bad for skin

we all know that sun is bad for our skin, but why? solar light is a continuous spectrum of electromagnetic radiation divided into three major categories including ultraviolet a, ultraviolet b and ultraviolet c, as well visible and infrared light. uva radiation is the most abundant form of ultraviolet radiation (90 to 95 per cent) being transmitted from the sun since it is not absorbed by the ozone layer. it’s also most responsible for premature aging. uvb radiation on the other hand, is more responsible for sunburns. there are also other forms of light radiation, including visible light from artificial sources such as computers, phones, fluorescent lights and led lights. infrared (ir) is not visible, and tends to be from artificial light typically used in security cameras.

all uv radiation has a significant affect skin aging, pigmentation, wrinkling, skin diseases and especially, skin cancers. the bottom line is that while sunlight is important for biological processes within the skin, prolonged or chronic exposure is harmful. in fact, from whatever source, uv radiation sets in motion irreversible damage to the skin such as irregular pigmentation (white and brown marks), skin that appears dull, dry, waxy, and red with tiny broken blood vessels, thins, or becomes thick like leather. and of course, along with this comes wrinkles and skin that lacks in elasticity.

but in addition to prematurely aging skin, uv radiation also causes skin cancer. in canada, 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, and melanoma — the most serious type of skin cancer — accounts for approximately 7000 of those cases. light skin types are at higher risk of skin cancer because pigmentation is protective to ultraviolet radiation. basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy in people with light skin, and the incidence is increasing in both men and women.

actinic keratosis — also known as solar keratosis — is a very common precancerous lesion that is caused by uv damage and occurs most often in light skin, usually in people more than 50 years old. it shows up like small scaly rough patches that are either red or brown, and can progress into squamous cell skin cancer if not treated.

other important and common skin conditions caused by chronic sun exposure include rosacea and melasma — both are inflammatory chronic skin conditions. rosacea is characterized by flushing or redness, with tiny broken blood vessels at the surface of the skin. melasma is chronic, characterized by uneven pigment patterns, difficult to treat and is often the result of significant sun exposure. poikiloderma is another skin condition that causes light and dark spots as well as overall redness, often seen on the neck and décolleté. these conditions are benign, but can be unsightly and distressing to the person who has them.

does sunscreen block vitamin d?

in order to get the most protection from the sun, in addition to covering up, the canadian dermatology association recommends a sunscreen with a minimum spf of 30, that is reapplied every two hours. lips should also be protected. but what about the belief that sunscreen limits our exposure to a natural source of vitamin d, which is important for the prevention of most chronic diseases, as well as helping our bodies with basic biological functions such as absorbing calcium?

studies have shown that more than enough vitamin d is absorbed by the skin when sunscreen is used — in fact, most of us get significantly more exposure than is necessary for vitamin d requirements. to put this in perspective, the world health organization (who) recommends as little as five to 15 minutes of sun exposure two to three times a week to get enough vitamin d.

check your skin

it’s a good idea to do regular self skin exams using a full-length mirror to check all areas of your skin (even hidden skin) and look for changing or new skin lesions that may be cause for concern. following the “abcde” acronym as a guide to what to look for — asymmetry, border, colour, diameter and evolving (changing) — can help you to spot areas that should be checked by a health-care professional.

of course, beyond physically protecting your skin, there are other things you can do to reduce the effect of sun damage and improve the skin’s ability to repair itself, such as a healthy diet full of green leafy vegetables and other brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables. staying hydrated helps the skin barrier resist inflammation, while exercise improves blood flow and supports the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. as for what not to do, smoking creates multiple toxins that are harmful to the skin, not only making it look older, but also inhibiting its ability to repair itself.

there are also some topical products that can help your skin, including vitamin c, a powerful antioxidant helps prevent sun damage and also repair damaged skin. while vitamin c is most abundant in the skin, studies have found that it is depleted when dietary sources of vitamin c are missing. medical-grade vitamin c has been shown to reduce inflammation, slow the breakdown of collagen and support the development of new collagen. vitamin c has also been shown to improve the effectiveness of sunscreen and reduce the incidence of sun burns — the topical daily application of vitamin c in the form of ascorbic acid is most effective. there are other medical-grade creams and oils that can support skin repair including retinols, alpha hydroxy acids, and growth factors.

prescriptions and device treatments such lasers, radio-frequency microneedling, and platelet rich plasma therapy have also been shown to repair sun damage, but require the assessment of a medical professional.

frances krawiec is a nurse practitioner at preventous cosmetic medicine.

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heading south? don't forget to protect your skin

skin cancer, melasma and rosacea are three good reasons to protect your skin from the sun.

the sun isn’t the only thing that’s bad for skin

aging well is an inside-out job

melasma: the emotional impact of skin disease

does sunscreen block vitamin d?

check your skin

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heading south? don't forget to protect your skin

skin cancer, melasma and rosacea are three good reasons to protect your skin from the sun.

the sun isn’t the only thing that’s bad for skin

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does sunscreen block vitamin d?

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