Yes I know there are a million and one websites with skin cancer articles and as far as I’m concerned everyone is doing a good job especially when you read that a million or more people each year will get skin cancer. When you think that a small mole or a small blemish on the skin can cause so many problems adding up to that million mark.

I’m sure you know there are many different types of skin cancer, and that the worst of them all is the malignant melanoma type which can have the habit of spreading cancers to other parts of the body.

As with other skin cancer articles the aim is to bring awareness to the problems, and that by taking several simple precautions you can avoid being another in the head count that suffers. If you are fair skinned make sure you have a sun screen of at least the factor of 30 which should be re-applied every two hours. If the sun is very strong be sure to wear a floppy hat or something that will cover your neck.

With most people they tend to be organised when going on holiday, and that a good sun screen is one of the first things to be packed, yet at home the opposite tends to happen. People will go out into the garden to do some general maintenance in a pair of shorts and singlet vest without a thought what the sun may do to them.

After awhile they go back into the house and see their reflection in the mirror, and as they look like a lobster they decide to put on some cream. But by then the damage is done, and that the epidermis layer of the skin is already in trouble.

It is common knowledge that skin cancers can be cured but only if they are caught early enough, yet it only takes a small amount to break off from a malignant melanoma to start a fresh cancer deep inside of you.

If you’re not sure about a mole or a blemish on your body please get yourself checked out at the Doctors as soon as possible, and to keep out of the Doctors make sure you cover up with either clothes or sun screen.



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Melanoma Diagnosis

Biopsy of the suspected tissue confirms the presence of Melanoma. If the tumor is bigger than 1 mm in thickness, lymph nodes may be examined for possible presence of melanoma cells in the nodes. A whole body scan also helps in finding out if the cancer has spread.

Treatment of Melanoma-

The choice of treatment depends upon the stage of melanoma. Melanoma progresses from the primary stage to fourth stage. In the fourth stage, the cancer has spread to different body parts. During the initial stages, surgery to remove the cancerous growth is the first choice. Treatment with Interferon is also used for melanoma that has spread to lymph nodes. For the fourth stage, you may have to discuss the treatment options with your oncologist. It is mostly incurable at this stage.

High Risk Groups-

* Exposure to UV radiation is the biggest risk factor. Most of this exposure takes place during the childhood. Those who are involved with jobs that keep them outdoor for a long time are also at risk.

* Presence of atypical moles (dysplastic nevi).

* White race. People who have fair skin that burns rather than tans, red hair, or blue eyes are at a higher risk.

* Previous melanoma or other skin cancer. Family history of melanoma.

* Other cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma.

* Impaired immune system.

* PUVA treatment, which is used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis.



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In the first part of this article about Melanoma, we learned about what is Melanoma and what are the causes. In this part we will find out about symptoms of Melanoma.

Signs & Symptoms of Melanoma

Look for changes in the moles. The ABCD system of the American Cancer Society is very easy to understand.

A-Asymmetry. One half doesn't match the other half.

B-Border irregularity, with ragged, notched, or blurred edges.

C- Color. The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Changes in colour distribution, especially the spread of colour from the edge of a mole into the surrounding skin, also are an early sign of melanoma.

D-Diameter. The mole or skin growth is larger than 6 mm (0.2 in.).

Any other change in the appearance of an existing mole should be looked into for a possibility of Melanoma. Thickening or raising of a previously flat mole, scaling, erosion, oozing, bleeding, or crusting of the mole surface, redness, swelling, etc. in the surrounding skin or sensations, such as itching, tingling, or burning and friability of the mole are symptoms of melanoma. As melanoma grows, the symptoms such as bleeding from a mole or pain may appear.

A melanoma which has begun to spread may include- swollen lymph nodes, colourless lump or thickening under the skin, unexplained weight loss and melanosis(graying skin).These symptoms are not conclusive and are manifested in many other conditions.

Graying of the skin (melanosis). Many other conditions have symptoms similar to melanoma.



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Malignant melanoma is an accelerated, metastatic type of skin cancer that originates in the cells of the epidermis. In this disorder, pigment-producing cells called melanocytes become cancerous, grow, and multiply at a devastating rate. Although melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, it is the most serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma may be cured, if caught and treated early, but it is rarely curable in its later stages.

Melanoma skin cancer cells are more likely than non-melanoma skin cancer cells to spread or metastasize. This means that they break away from the original tumor, travel through the blood or lymphatic vessels, and then grow within other parts of the body.

The most well documented risk factor for malignant melanoma is exposure to UV radiation.

Melanoma affects equal number of men and women and affects any part of the body. It usually appears after age 50, though it can develop at any age. People with light skin are far more likely to develop melanoma than dark-skinned people.

Melanoma Causes -

Melanoma is commonly caused due to:

* Exposure to UV rays of the sun. Greater the intensity of exposure, greater the chances of developing Melanoma.

* Family history of melanoma.

* Presence of atypical moles.

* Suppressed immunity due to an organ transplant, leukemia, or lymphoma.



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Summer is a time for swimming, outings, picnics, and fun. But it's also the best time to get a bad sunburn or worse, a bad case of skin cancer.

Adequate sunlight helps your body make vitamin D but too much can kill you. Aside from premature aging, wrinkles and cataracts, long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays causes skin cells to grow abnormally and develop into a tumor that can be cancerous.

The most common types of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell cancers. Melanoma is less common but more serious. This usually occurs in the fourth or fifth decade of life but 80 to 90 percent of sun-related damage that leads to melanoma occurs before the age of 18.

"There are three major types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas and most squamous cell carcinomas are slow growing and highly treatable, especially if found early. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It affects deeper layers of the skin and has the greatest potential to spread to other tissues in the body. Squamous cell carcinoma also can spread internally," according to the Mayo Clinic.

In the United States alone, there are over one million cases of skin cancer reported every year and thousands of deaths annually. This year, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that over 59,000 melanomas will be diagnosed and 8,810 people will die of the disease.

At risk are those who spend too much time under the sun like laborers, farmers, sailors as well as students undergoing military training, scouts, campers, athletes, sunbathers, and swimmers.

Others who need adequate sun protection are the elderly who have thin skin and are more vulnerable to the sun's deadly rays, babies with delicate skin that burns easily, those taking drugs like diuretics, tranquilizers, and antibiotics, and those applying astringents.

"Skin cancer begins in your skin's top layer - the epidermis. The epidermis is as thin as a pencil line, and it provides a protective layer of skin cells that your body continually sheds. Normally, skin cells within the epidermis develop in a controlled and orderly way. In general, healthy new cells push older cells toward the skin's surface, where they die and eventually are sloughed off. This process is controlled by DNA - the genetic material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body," the Mayo Clinic said

"Skin cancer occurs when this process malfunctions. When DNA is damaged, changes occur in the instructions, which can cause new cells to grow out of control and form a mass of cancer cells," it added.

Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to develop malignant melanoma but that's no reason for those with dark skin to rejoice. While people with dark skin have more melanin pigment which protects them from burning, experts say melanin-rich complexions are not immune from the sun's harmful rays. The longer you stay under the sun, the greater your risk of getting skin cancer regardless of the color of your skin.

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear sunscreens regularly, wear dark, tightly woven clothes, and use a good pair of sunglasses. To prevent wrinkles caused by the sun, use Dermaxin, a potent anti-aging formula that revitalizes and nourishes your skin. Check out http://www.dermaxin.com



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There is growing concern about the link between cosmetic sun bed use and the rising incidence of skin cancer in Scotland. This issue was highlighted at the Scotland Against Cancer conference last year at which a case was made for thorough regulation of sun bed operators. It was felt that tighter controls could have a positive impact on skin cancer prevention efforts.

Individuals and organisations with an interest in skin cancer prevention have continued to express concern about rising sun bed use and the effect this may have on levels of skin cancer which is the fastest rising cancer in Scotland, and a particular problem in the West of Scotland. The risk of skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to ultraviolet light and intense exposure to such light is the most dangerous to the skin. For example, too much time spent in the sun on holidays abroad or excessive time spent in the sun on the occasional hot day in Scotland, constitutes this type of exposure.

Sun bed use also provides a form of intense exposure to ultraviolet light. Just one session a month will double the average individual’s annual dose of ultraviolet radiation. Sun bed use is on the rise in Scotland and there is now a significant body of evidence to suggest that the sunbed industry suffers from a lack of regulation. Cases of malpractice by operators have been documented in a survey by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS). In particular there is evidence that children, who are especially sensitive to ultraviolet light, are now regularly using sunbeds. Just one day of burning as a child increases the risk of getting skin cancer as an adult.

Tanning in General

Tanning is your body’s natural protection against sunburn; it’s what your body is designed to do. Developing a tan is your body’s natural way of protecting against the dangers of sunburn and further exposure.

Whether you tan outdoors under the sun or indoors in a tanning facility, the tanning process is the same. This natural process takes place when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. Light is composed of energy waves that travel from the sun to the Earth. Each energy wave can be identified by its length in nanometres, (nm), which is one-billionth of a meter. Light can be broken into three general categories: infrared, visible and invisible. Ultraviolet light is in the invisible light spectrum. There are three kinds of ultraviolet light: UVA, UVB and UVC. Tanning itself takes place in the skin’s outermost layer, the epidermis. There are three major types of skin cells in your epidermis: basal cells, keratinocytes and melanocytes. All play different roles in the tanning process. Everyone has roughly the same number of melanocytes in their bodies—about 5 million. Your heredity determines how much pigment your melanocytes can produce. Melanocytes release extra melanosomes whenever ultraviolet light waves touch them. This produces a tan in your skin.

Skin Types

I. - Always burns; never tans, pale white skin; "Celtic"

II. - Burns easily; tans minimally; White skin

III. - Burns moderately; tans gradually to light brown average; Caucasian skin

IV. - Burns minimally, always tans well to moderately brown; Olive skin

V. - Rarely burns; tans profusely to dark; Brown skin

VI. - Never burns; deeply pigmented; Black skin

Effects of UV

There is a body of scientific research demonstrating that the production of the activated form of vitamin D is one of the most effective ways the body controls abnormal cell growth. Moderate exposure to sunlight is only way for the body to manufacture the vitamin D necessary for producing activated vitamin D.A 1997 report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU/day of vitamin D for women aged 50 years or younger, 400 IU/day for those aged 51-70 and 600 IU/day for those older than 70. Moderate exposure to sunlight helps the body manufacture vitamin D and eating salmon or mackerel and drinking fortified milk or juices is a step in the right direction. The amount of vitamin D formed in a given period of exposure depends on the colour of your skin—that is, how rich your skin is in melanin. Melanin absorbs UV radiation. Therefore it diminishes the production of vitamin D. The darker a person's skin, the longer he or she has to be in the sun or exposed to UVB radiation to form a significant amount of vitamin D.
Like melanin, sunscreen also absorbs UV radiation and therefore greatly diminishes the skin’s vitamin D production. For example, sunscreen with a PDF of 8 diminishes a person’s ability to produce vitamin D by 95%. In addition, winter sunlight in the northern latitudes does not have enough UVB radiation to produce vitamin D in the skin leading to diminished vitamin D levels in winter.
Moderate exposure is the most responsible way to maximize the potential benefits of sun or UV exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight. Avoiding sunburns is critical to moderation. Experiencing painful sunburns before the age of 20—not lifetime exposure to the sun—is the factor associated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

History and Facts of Indoor Tanning

Europeans started tanning indoors with sunlamps that emitted ultraviolet (UV) light as a therapeutic exercise to harness the positive psychological and physiological effects of exposure to UV light. This practice became widespread in Europe, particularly in the sun-deprived northern countries by the 1970s—several years before the first indoor tanning facility was established in the UK. Although indoor tanning is considered a cosmetic exercise the roots are therapeutic and many people do in fact visit tanning facilities for that purpose.

The indoor tanning industry has grown substantially in 25 years. Today it is a strong part of the small business community. And each year about 10 percent of the public visits an indoor tanning facility. This business is estimated to be worth £3 billion worldwide.

The indoor tanning industry’s position is summed up in this declaration:

“Moderate tanning, for individuals who can develop a tan, is the smartest way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight.”

The indoor tanning salon industry claims to be part of the solution in the ongoing battle against sunburn by teaching people how to identify a proper and practical life-long skin care regimen. No legislation covers indoor tanning just the following government guidance:

“Like the sun, sun-beds give out UV rays that can increase the risk of skin cancer. The more you use sunbeds, the greater the risk is likely to be and when the tan fades, the skin damage remains. If you're under 16 you should never use a sunbed, as young skin is more delicate and prone to damage than older skin. Even if you are over 16 you should be very careful if you choose to use one. You should also really avoid sunbeds altogether if you:

a. - have fair or freckly skin

b. - burn easily

c. - have a lot of moles

d. - have a family history of skin cancer

e. - use medication that increases your sensitivity to UV.

If you do decide to use one, limit yourself to two sessions a week, over a period of 30 weeks, every year. But remember that if you don't tan in the sun, you won't tan any more easily on a sunbeds.”

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer has a 20- to 30-year latency period. The rates of skin cancer we are seeing today are most likely the result of bad habits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s that were based on ignorance and misinformation about sun tanning. In those days, many people still considered sunburns an inconvenient right of spring, a precursor to developing a summer tan. People believed that sunburns would “fade” into tans, and so tanners hit the beaches with baby oil and reflectors. Severe burns were commonplace. Today we know how reckless and uninformed that approach was. What’s more, the photobiology research community has determined that most skin cancers are related to a strong pattern of intermittent exposure to ultraviolet light in people who are genetically predisposed to skin cancer. These skin cancers are not simply the result of cumulative exposure. Once again, this suggests that heredity and a pattern of repeated sun burning are the primary factors associated with skin cancer.

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes). An increased risk of melanoma has been associated with people who have moles or repeated sunburn experiences as a child or young adult. Most melanomas occur on non-sun-exposed parts of the body. For example, melanoma is infrequently found on the face. Although melanoma accounts for only 5% of all newly diagnosed skin cancer cases each year, it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity.

Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one’s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. As a nation high in Celtic heredity Scotland needs to consider these facts.

Scotland’s Skin Cancer Epidemic

Scotland may be experiencing a skin cancer epidemic with the incidence of skin cancer tripling in the last thirty years. There were over 7,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in 2001, up from 2,200 in 1975 and higher rates of melanoma incidence have been reported in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.

In the age group 20-39 years, malignant melanoma is the second most common cancer in the UK. This is an unusually young age distribution for an adult cancer and emphasises the importance of its prevention and early treatment to avert the potential loss of many years of life.
On average, about 20 years of life are lost for each melanoma death in the UK.

The NHS and a number of cancer charities have most clearly linked the steep rise in incidence to changing cultural perceptions of a tan as desirable and the steep rise in the number of people taking holidays in the sun.

Tanning grew significantly in popularity through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and as skin cancer may take 20 or more years to develop; the high rates of skin cancer can be expected to continue for many years to come.

Mortality from skin cancer, particularly melanoma, it’s most aggressive form, has not fallen despite major public health initiatives to raise awareness of sun protection and skin cancer. Attempts are being made by health promotion agencies to tackle this growing problem through encouraging people to change their behaviour on holiday and convincing Scots to take care on sunny days at home.

Another source of ultraviolet light is that derived from sunbed use and medical evidence on the risk of sunbeds to health is increasing. Sunbeds have been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including eye damage, photodermatosis, photosensitivity, premature skin ageing and skin cancer.

Ultraviolet rays from sunbeds have been classified as Group 2A carcinogens by the International Association for Research into Cancer (IARC) that is, “probably causing cancer in humans.” Recent analyses from studies in different countries over the last ten years have shown that the use of sunbeds increased the risk of cancer and the risk appears to be higher if use begins early in life.
Furthermore, in the UK a significant study from the British Medical Association found that sunbed users were 2.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer. The risks appear to be higher in the young.

A model has been developed to estimate human ultraviolet exposure to both sunlight and sunbeds, and this information was used to predict the contribution of sunbeds to melanoma mortality in the UK. The results of this study indicate that sunbeds cause 100 deaths from melanomas each year in the UK

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended in 2005 that no one under 18 should use a sunbed and that there is a need for guidelines or legislation to reduce the risks associated with sunbed use. WHO argues that growth in the use of sunbeds, combined with the desire and fashion to have a tan, are considered to be the prime reasons behind the fast growth in skin cancers in developed countries. The highest rates are found predominantly in those countries where people are fairest-skinned and where the sun tanning culture is strongest: Australia, New Zealand, North America and northern Europe. The people of Scotland are particularly fair-skinned and therefore at relatively high risk of developing skin cancer.

Risk Associated with Sunbeds Use

Despite common claims, radiation from sunbeds is no safer than exposure to the sun itself. The emission from many sunbeds is greater than that from the midday sun in the Mediterranean. The UVA portion of the emission spectrum can be 10-15 times higher than that of the midday sun.
A 1986 survey found that people believed that sunbeds cause less damage to skin than outdoor tanning. This is partly because of the marketing of sunbeds as a way of getting a ‘safer’, ‘controlled’ tan. Positive health claims are still being used to market cosmetic sunbeds.

In 2005 the action of ultraviolet light on skin to synthesise Vitamin D in the body was used in an advertisement funded by The Sunbed Association to promote the use of sunbeds as healthy. When a consumer complained about the inference, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld the complaint, in recognition of the fact that health professionals do not recommend sunbeds as the main source of Vitamin D, because of the risk associated with skin damage and cancer.
This was also the conclusion of the recent American Academy of Dermatology conference in May 2005. This conference reviewed evidence and recommended that Vitamin D supplements are a safer, cheaper and better alternative to raise Vitamin D levels than ultraviolet light, especially for the frail elderly and possibly for dark-skinned people with low sun exposure. Because of the documented causal relationship between skin cancer and sunbeds, many international and UK health organizations have publicly recommended that sunbeds should not be used, or their use should be limited and regulated to protect public health.

Lack of Regulation

There exists no relevant legislation other than the general Health and Safety guidance, mentioned earlier, to control the use of sunbeds.

The HSE has issued guidelines and cosmetic sunbed premises and machines are subject to the requirements of health and safety legislation in Scotland. Control of exposure is governed by the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999.

To comply with this legislation, duty holders are required to assess the health and safety risks caused by their work activities which will include the risks to employees and customers from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and put in place measures to control these risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Specific guidance has been issued by the HSE on Controlling the Risks from the Use of Ultraviolet Tanning Equipment and can be found at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg209.pdf

Some businesses operate under a voluntary code of conduct agreed by the Sunbed Association. The Sunbed Association claims 20-25% of cosmetic sunbed premises are in membership. Consequently, with those numbers, voluntary arrangements can only have limited effect.

Although the Sunbed Association provides training schedules, there appears to be no requirement for training associated with the use of non-therapeutic UV radiation. The responsibility is on the provider to supply appropriate information that will allow potential clients to make an informed decision about whether or not sunbeds are suitable for their use. International legislation is diverse but it is significant that the need for regulation is recognized in France, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and the USA. European standards exist to regulate ultraviolet lamp emission strength and sunbed products.

The Case for Sunbed Salon Licensing

It is only within the last decade that public health authorities in Scotland have begun to highlight the health risks associated with sunbed use and in particular, the increased risk of developing skin cancer. In the past, many local authorities provided tanning facilities within their own leisure centres. The association of sunbeds with leisure facilities reinforced the perception that a tan is a sign of good health. Fortunately, over the last decade most sunbeds have been removed from local authority premises. In the main, this has been done because local authorities perceive this to be an action they can take to discourage the use of sunbeds for cosmetic tanning purposes, and to highlight the dangers associated with use.

In addition, the problem of skin cancer has often been viewed as a local community issue, with the subsequent onus on local authorities to take action. However, while the provision of sunbeds in local authority facilities has decreased, the number of commercial sunbed premises has increased.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns that some cosmetic sunbed premises are poorly run and offer little advice on the health risks associated with sunbed use.

A 2003 REHIS survey of 794 cosmetic sunbed premises in all 32 Scottish local authority areas identified a number of un-staffed and unsupervised premises and salons that were failing to check the age of customers or enquire about skin type or medical conditions which may deem sunbed use particularly ill advisable. In addition, the survey highlighted a number of salons that were failing to offer customers adequate eye protection.

Surveys in the UK and North America show that tanning salon operators typically show ignorance of sunbed risks and fail to enforce rules for using sunbeds.

The University of Dundee and Perth and Kinross Council in a joint study of privately operated premises in Tayside revealed the following major incidences of poor practice:

• 89% exercised no administrative control on the number of sessions/customer

• 81% failed to give adequate advice to customers

• 59% maintained no customer records

• 33% displayed no guidance to users

The recent change by many commercial operators to adopt more powerful UV lamps using shorter wavelengths has led to even greater concern amongst health professionals. An assessment by the Photobiology Unit at the University of Dundee Ninewells Hospital concluded that “all tanning units are potentially harmful and that the newer stand-up type has a much greater risk than has been generally appreciated.

Scottish Executive Proposal

Compel local authorities to issue licences regulating cosmetic sunbeds premises. Require providers of cosmetic tanning facilities, or equipment, to obtain a licence to operate from the local authority. The licensing conditions would be set so that local authorities could:

• Prevent the use of sunbeds by children

• Protect adults from over-exposure

• Ensure that sunbed users are supervised

• End the use of coin-operated machines

• Ensure that sunbed sessions are monitored and limited

• Provide health risk information in sunbed parlours

• Inspect premises

The proposal seeks to achieve a number of objectives. By providing health risk information it aims to ensure adults are equipped to make informed choices about the risks of sunbed use. The conditions of licensing would require staff to be on premises, which would help to prevent overexposure to ultraviolet light, especially by those who are more sensitive such as users with fair skins. Reduce the number of burns and accidents currently attributed to the misuse of unsupervised equipment and would drive up standards amongst operators. Premises not holding a licence would not be permitted to trade.

The lack of sunbed regulation in commercial premises and the damaging impact this can have, is best illustrated by example.

In the summer of 2004, two young boys aged 11 and 13 years old used unsupervised sunbeds in Stirling and were so badly burnt, they had to be admitted to hospital. Stirling Council environmental health officers were alerted to investigate the incident but because there was no legislation covering the regulation of sunbeds, action could not be taken against the salon for being un-staffed or for allowing young people under the age of 16 years to use a sunbed.

Impact of Licensing Scheme

It is anticipated that those businesses which could not meet a licensing requirement would be required to either invest in their businesses or be forced to cease trading. This would also eliminate the existence of coin-operated sunbed machines as well as the presence of un-staffed locations.
The cost of a licensing scheme must be balanced against the cost of reducing the harm caused by sunbeds. Although there would also be an administrative charge to operators of premises, in the long run the regulations would reduce the number of Scots – presently around 7,000 per year - who are being treated for skin cancer by the National Health Service.

Conclusion

Scotland needs to take action to tackle skin cancer and the public health message that sunbeds are potentially dangerous needs to be heard loud and clear. A system of licensing for sunbed salons could do for skin cancer what the health warning on packs of cigarettes has done for lung cancer.
It would introduce health controls in an otherwise very unregulated area, it would protect our young people and children from harm and it would raise public awareness of the dangers of skin cancer.

It is suggested that the voluntary regulation scheme is ineffective, and there may be a need for formal regulation in this area. Regulating sunbeds to ensure that children do not use them and to ensure that all users are aware of the risks associated with sunbed use, could be a major step forwards in the drive to control Scotland’s skin cancer epidemic.

Reference Material: (If you have a deeper interest)

1. Statistical Information Team Cancer Research UK (2006) ‘CancerStats, Malignant Melanoma-UK’Information available online at http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/ 2. Spencer, J. & Amonette, R. Indoor tanning: risks, benefits, and future trends. 3. Solar and ultraviolet radiation. (IARCPress, Lyon, 1992) 4. Gallagher RP, Spinelli JJ, Lee TK. Tanning beds, sunlamps and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14:562 5. Young AR, Tanning devices – fast track to skin cancer? Pigment Cell Res 2004;17:2-9 6. Karagas MR, Stannard VA, Mott LA, et al. (2002) Use of tanning devices and risk of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 94:224-6. 7. Westerdahl J, Olsson H, Masback A et al. (1994) “Use of sunbeds or sunlamps and malignant melanoma in Southern Sweden”.American Journal of Eepidemiology 140:691-9. 8. Diffey, B. A quantitative estimate of melanoma mortality from ultraviolet A sunbed use in the U.K.Br J Dermatol 149, 578-81 (2003). 9. WHO fact sheet : Sunbeds, tanning and UV exposure, March 2005, at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs287/en/ 10. Gerber, B., Mathys, P. Moser, M., Bressoud, D. & Braun-Fahrlander, C. Ultraviolet emission spectra of sunbeds. Photochem Photobiol 76, 664-8 (2002). 11. Wester, U., Boldemann, C., Jansson, B. & Ullen, H. Population UV-dose and skin area--do sunbeds rival the sun? Health Phys 77, 436-40 (1999) 12. Autier, P. Perspectives in melanoma prevention: the case of sunbeds. Eur J Cancer 40, 2367-2376 (2004). Advertising Standards Authority- non-broadcast adjudication, 7September 2005, www.asa.org.uk 13. Lim HW, Sunlight, tanning booths and Vitamin D, J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52;868-76 14. British Medical Association- www.bma.org.uk 15. REHIS calls for Executive Action on Sunbeds, poor standards putting Scots at risk,November 2003 16. Ross, R. & Phillips, B. Twenty questions for tanning facility operators: a survey of operator knowledge. Can J Public Health 85, 393-6 (1994) 17. Moseley, H., Davidson, M. & Ferguson, J. A hazard assessment of artificial tanning units. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 14, 79-87 (1998). 18. Culley, C. et al. Compliance with federal and state legislation by indoor tanning facilities in San Diego. J Am Acad Dermatol 44, 53-60 (2001). 19. Moseley, H, MDavidson and J Ferguson. (1999) “Sunbeds and the need to know” British Journal of Dermatology. 141: 573-609 20. Royal Environmental Health Institute survey, November 2003 [cited in note 2]. 21. NHS Scotland - Survey of Sunbed Salons in Scotland. Information collated by Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, 3 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7DH, November 2003.

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The word cancer brings fear to all of us. We've all spent time in the sun as children, and never gave a second thought to it's effect on our bodies during that period in our active lives. As we mature and become adults, we are faced with the fact that all of those childhood hours in the sun can't be erased. Many of us will hear the words, "You have skin cancer," spoken to us by a doctor in the future.

Your doctor or another medical professional can give you a list skin cancer signs to look for on your body. Some of the larger medical schools and cancer institutions in the United States are now providing free skin cancer screening programs to the public in order to do research in this field with their students. In our large metropolis, there is such a school that has saved untold numbers of people from horrible scarring and even death by such screenings. If left undetected, some skin cancers may mutate and turn into deadly melanoma cancer. Contact your doctor and/or medical schools in your area to see if such research may exist. If not, learn the signs of different types of skin cancer and notify your doctor as soon as possible. Early detection can prevent noticeable scarring, and the risk of future problems associated with skin cancer.

Now, for a word of wisdom from all of the wonderful professionals I've had the unfortunate opportunity to have to speak with over the past few years. ALWAYS USE SUNSCREEN! Check with your family doctor for the recommended types of sunscreen they feel are best for your family. If you are the parent of an infant, toddler or underage child, make sure they have sunscreen on before playing in the sun. Now, a few further words of wisdom for all of us adults who still do, play in the sun...ALWAYS USE SUNSCREEN!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_French

Let's face it, nobody wants to spend 2-3 hours under the hot sun, just to get a tan. And if you've ever used the spray stuff, you know the drawbacks of it: Sticky skin, short lasting, and can you say messy? Sure you can have a professional sprayer tan your body, but not only can it be very uncomfortable for the client, it can get spendy.

Meet the tanning bed. A quick 10-15 minute, relaxing session in a tanning bed can not only be therapeutic, but you get a great tan at the same time! Just bring your favorite music, put your goggles and lotion on, and relax. What could be better?

Unfortunately, the benefits of tanning beds do have their disadvantages. Namely the effects on your skin. Both commercial and home-use tanning beds are equipped with high powered, high energy Ultraviolet bulbs that can cause severe damage to your skin cells. Studies have shown that the UVB and UVA rays emitted by tanning beds can damage our skin cells in an irreversible effect. Scientists have proven that these harmful rays damage the DNA in our skin, which has been directly related to the development of skin cancers and damage to the immune system. It has also been shown that the deep penetrating effects of UVA rays can reduce skin elasticity and cause premature wrinkles. Not fun!

What can we do?

Although research has proven that tanning beds can have detrimental effects on our skin, research is limited, and there are precautionary measures we can all do to lower the risk of side effects. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to limit your tanning sessions, especially if you have sensitive / fair skin. 10-15 minutes is usually enough time for the melanin in our skin to soak up the required energy to darken our skin. Any time spent beyond the recommended limit is unnecessary and can cause burning and greatly increase the risk of side effects.

Most, it not all tanning salons are stocked with lotion, lip balm, and goggles. Proper use of this protective gear is crucial to your safety, namely your eyes and lips. The eyes and lips do not contain the protective protein melanin, so any over-exposure to UV rays can severely damage them. And although our skin has a natural defense to the harmful UV rays, tanning lotion with the proper amount of SPF can add a new layer of protection without interfering with your tan.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Timothy_Croy

We all enjoy going out on a sunny day, whether to garden, go to the beach, or just for a walk, and we have trained ourselves to slap on the sunscreen before venturing outdoors, but have you ever wondered just how much protection does sunscreen really give? Did you know that the label of your favorite brand of sunscreen does not tell you what amount of protection you are actually getting from it? Well if a newly proposed. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule for sunscreen products is adopted, we will have that information on every bottle, and will be able to understand it in a much clearer way.

One million people in North America will be diagnosed with some type of skin cancer this year, and that is far too many. Excessive exposure to UV radiation is the one most important preventable cause of skin cancer. It is common knowledge that the effects of sunlight damage on our bodies is growing every year, due to lowered ozone levels that allow more of the harmful rays though the earths atmosphere.

The newly proposed rule seeks to establish standards for testing, formulating, and labelling all over-the-counter sunscreen products with ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection. UVA light is responsible for tanning and UVB light is responsible for sunburn. Both of these types of light will damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer with over exposure.

Presently, the only way for consumers to find out the level of UVB protection in their sunscreen product is by its SPF or, sun protection factor.

This new rating would establish a scale of one to four stars. One star on the label would represent low UVA protection, two stars on the label would represent medium protection, three stars on the label would represent high protection and, of course, four stars would represent the highest UVA protection that available in an over-the-counter Sunscreen product. The FDA is also proposing that the product, if it does not have at least a low level or one star of protection, that the manufacturers will be required to have a "NO UVA PROTECTION" marking on the front label adjacent to the SPF value.

The FDA is also proposing a required warning statement to be placed in the "Drug Facts" box for all sunscreen product manufacturers. The warning will state: "UV Exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin Aging, and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by Limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a Sunscreen." The warning is being put on the label to remind people that sunscreens are only a part of a sun protection program.

With over one million cases of skin cancer in North America alone, I feel that these measures will dispel any worries about what exactly the protection is that we are getting in our over the counter sunscreens. This proposal is an excellent step towards letting the consumer take control of the amount of protection that they put on themselves daily. I hope that it goes through and is implemented quickly. The idea of a symbol being used (Stars) is genius, giving people of any age, including children, the knowledge they need to be proactive in the fight against skin cancer. Of course, labeling "sunscreen" that has no UVB protection in it is no-brainer, and an excellent idea. There are many varieties of sunscreen at the market, and being able to simply make a wise and knowledgeable choice about how much protection you want cannot be anything but a good idea.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgina_Grant