Spring Break

"I love vacationing somewhere warm in the winter" says 30-year-old Christina Duncan of North York ON.

Canadian winters can be very cold and for most of us far too long. "Spending a week or two in a tropical climate shortens the amount of time I have to endure the cold" says Duncan.

For Duncan lying out in the sun and getting a deep golden tan used to be a major motivating factor for her winter getaways·but not anymore. Last year Duncan not only started to notice fine lines brown spots and wrinkles on her face but also had to have a small pre-cancerous mole removed from her back. "I'm fine now. I don't have skin cancer or anything but I don't act as carelessly in the sun anymore" says Duncan. "Putting my health at risk for a tan that eventually fades isn't worth it."

The idea of travelling to a warm destination to get out of the cold can be quite appealing but spending too much time in the sun without protecting your skin can be hazardous to your health. Despite all the information available about the dangers of tanning many people still slather on sun tan oil and fry themselves to a crisp. Duncan thought she looked better with darker skin. "I used to love the way my skin glowed when I had a tan" says Duncan. "I don't think that way anymore. I know I'm damaging my skin when I sit in the sun without protection." While Duncan has changed her opinion of how golden skin looks 80% of people under 25 think they actually look better with a tan.

What Tanning Does To Your Skin

Your skin is your largest organ and helps protect your body from the environment. It also contains cells that work to help your immune system fight off infections so keeping it in top condition is important.

When you spend time in the sun you allow two types of ultraviolet radiation to penetrate your skin UVA and UVB. UVA rays aren't as powerful as UVB and are considered the culprit behind premature aging and wrinkled skin. They also play a role in the development of skin cancer. Inside tanning could even be worse for you as artificial tanning devices can emit two to five times more UVA rays than natural sunlight!

While UVB rays are shorter than UVA they're much more powerful and mainly affect the skin's outer layers causing sunburn skin aging and skin cancer. UVB rays are extremely intense during the summer months at high altitudes and in regions close to the equator. If you regularly allow yourself to be exposed to UVB rays you could develop skin cancer and damage your immune system.

Tanning is visible proof that your skin is being damaged. When UVA and UVB rays penetrate your skin they stimulate your melanocyte cells which produce a brown pigment called melanin. The more time you spend in the sun the more melanin your skin produces to protect it from the sun. Melanin acts as a protective cover for your skin's cells and it's what gives you the brown tint that we know as a suntan.

Different people have different amounts of melanin in their skin. If have a Northern European background chances are your skin is naturally pale and you'll burn quickly if you're in the sun too long. But even those with naturally dark skin can still suffer the hazards of sun exposure. It's important that everyone protect his or her skin from the sun regardless of skin tone.

Long-Term Affects

While melanin is nature's way of protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays it can only do so much. If you spend repeated long periods of time in the sun skin damage is inevitable. Duncan stopped lying out in the sun because she started to notice her skin change. "I looked in the mirror one day and I felt my skin was making me look really old!" says Duncan.

Getting wrinkles developing leathery skin and premature aging should be more than enough reason to stay out of the sun. Pursuing that perfect tan may not only ruin your skin but you could be laying the groundwork for a fatal disease if you're not careful. "One day I noticed a mole on my back" says Duncan. "My doctor looked at it and suggested I have it removed before it turned cancerous."

Skin cancer is the most serious health risk associated with tanning. According to the Canadian Dermatology Association approximately 3700 new cases of melanoma were reported in 2000 as compared to 2400 new cases in 1989. The Canadian Cancer Society says the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers increased from an estimated 40000 in 1989 to an estimated 68000 in 2000.

Protect Yourself

The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) says that while excessive exposure to the sun's rays can damage your skin you don't have to become a hermit sheltered indoors. Instead they suggest you be sun smart and protect yourself. The CDA offers the following tips on how to stay safe in the sun:

Try to reduce sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (e.g. schedule outdoor sporting events for early evening; if you're a jogger plan to do so first thing in the morning).
Seek shade or create your own shade (e.g. use an umbrella on the beach).
Wear clothing to cover your arms and legs.
Wear a wide brimmed hat and wrap-around sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection
Apply sunscreen with minimum SPF #15 or higher with UVA andUVB protection (higher for individuals spending extended periods of time out of doors).
It is important to be familiar with your skin. Check yourself monthly for moles and freckles. See your dermatologist if any growth mole or discolouration appears suddenly or begins to change or if a sore does not heal. Once cancer develops early detection and treatment are the best defence.
Certain medications such as antibiotics and retinoids commonly taken to fight acne increase the risk of sunburn. If you're taking these kinds of medications you should take extra sun safety precautions.
If you're pregnant or taking birth control pills you should be particularly wary of the sun because you could develop dark pigmentation on your cheeks and forehead (also known as the "pregnancy mask"). A sunscreen with an SPF #30 with UVA and UVB protection should definitely be worn.
If you still feel you must have a tan the CDA recommends the use of self-tanning creams applied at night and followed with an SPF #15 or more with UVA and UVB protection sunscreen each day. Self-tanning creams do not provide sun protection.
Practicing safe sun precautions needs to become as important as practicing safe sex and responsible drinking.