sunscreens

Sunscreens

Definition

Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Purpose

Everyone needs a little sunshine. About 15 minutes of exposure a day helps the body make Vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. But longer exposure may cause many problems, from wrinkles to skin cancer. One particularly deadly form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, has been on the rise in recent decades, as tanning has become more popular. Over the same period, scientists have warned that the thin layer of ozone that protects life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is being depleted. This allows more UV radiation to get through, adding to the risk of overexposure.Sunscreens help protect against the sun's damaging effects. But just how much protection they provide is a matter of debate. The sun gives off two kinds of ultraviolet radiation, called UV-A and UV-B. For many years, experts thought that only UV-B was harmful. However, recent research suggests that UVA may be just as dangerous as UV-B, although its effects may take longer to show up. In particular, UV-A may have a role in causing melanoma. Most sunscreen products contain ingredients that provide adequate protection only against UV-B rays. Even those labeled as broad-spectrum sunscreens may offer only partial protection against UV-A radiation. Those containing the ingredient avobenzone give the most protection against UV-A rays.Some medical experts are concerned that sunscreens give people a false sense of security, allowing them to stay in the sun longer than they should. Although sunscreens protect the skin from burning, they may not protect against other kinds of damage. A number of studies suggest that people who use sunscreens may actually increase their risk of melanoma because they spend too much time in the sun. This does not mean that people should stop using sunscreens. It means that they should not rely on sunscreens alone for protection. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreens should be one part of sun protection, along with wide-brimmed hats and tightly-woven clothing that covers the arms and legs.Sunscreens are also recommended for patients with rosacea or other skin disorders that are aggravated by exposure to sunlight.

Description

Many brands of sunscreens are available, containing a variety of ingredients. The active ingredients work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering some or all of the sun's rays. Most sunscreen products contain combinations of ingredients.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required sunscreen products to carry a sun protection factor (SPF) rating on their labels since 1999. This number tells the consumer how well the sunscreen protects against burning. The higher the number, the longer a person can stay in the sun without burning.Sunscreens are usually grouped into two major categories, namely chemical absorbers and physical blockers. Chemical absorbers absorb high-intensity UV rays while physical blockers reflect or scatter them. Chemical absorber compounds include avobenzone, padimate O, octyl methoxycinnamate, octisalate, and octocrylene. Physical blocker compounds include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The chief drawback of the physical blockers is their tendency to leave a white film on the skin, causing many people to use less of the product than they should for full sun protection.A plant-derived compound that shows promise as a sunscreen is nobiletin, a flavonoid extracted from Citrus depressa or flat orange, a small citrus fruit native to Taiwan and Okinawa. Topical application of nobiletin has been shown to be effective in preventing the swelling and reddening of the skin associated with overexposure to sunlight.Sunscreen products are sold as lotions, creams, gels, oils, sprays, sticks, and lip balms, and can be bought without a physician's prescription.

Recommended dosage

One should be sure to read the instructions that come with the product. Some need to be applied as long as one or two hours before sun exposure. Others should be applied 15-30 minutes before exposure, and reapplied frequently during exposure.People should apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed parts of the skin, including the hands, feet, nose, ears, neck, scalp (if the hair is thin or very short), and eyelids. They should take care not to get sunscreen in the eyes, as it can cause irritation. People should also use a lip balm containing sunscreen to protect the lips, and reapply sunscreen liberally every 1-2 hours—more frequently when perspiring heavily or after swimming.

Precautions

Sunscreen alone will not provide full protection from the sun. When possible, one should wear a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirts or blouses, and sunglasses. Try to stay out of the sun between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. (11 A.M. to 3 P.M. Daylight Saving Time), when the sun's rays are strongest. The sun can damage the skin even on cloudy days, so get in the habit of using a sunscreen every day. Be especially careful at high elevations or in areas with surfaces that reflect the sun's rays, such as sand, water, concrete, or snow.Sunlamps, tanning beds, and tanning booths were once thought to be safer than the sun, because they give off mainly UV-A rays. However, UV-A rays are now known to cause serious skin damage and may increase the risk of melanoma. Heatlh experts advise people not to use these tanning devices.People with fair skin, blond, red or light-brown hair, and blue or light-colored eyes are at greatest risk for developing skin cancer. So are people with many large skin moles. These people should avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible. However, even dark-skinned people, including African Americans and Hispanic Americans may suffer skin damage from the sun and should be careful about exposure.Other groups of people who should minimize sun exposure are those who have had organ transplants or recent plastic surgery. Patients who have received organ transplants have a greatly increased risk of developing skin cancer, and the facial skin of people who have had face lifts or similar plastic surgery procedures sunburns more easily than intact skin.Sunscreens should not be used on infants under 6 months of age because of the risk of side effects. Instead, children this young should be kept out of the sun. Children over 6 months should be protected with clothing and sunscreens of at least SPF 15, preferably lotions. Sunscreens containing alcohol should not be used on children because they may irritate the skin.Older people who stay out of the sun and use sunscreens may not produce enough vitamin D in their bodies. They may need to increase the vitamin D in their diets by including foods such as fortified milk and salmon. A health care professional can help decide if this precaution is necessary.Anyone who has had unusual reactions to any sunscreen ingredients in the past should check with a physician or pharmacist before using a sunscreen. The physician or pharmacist should also be told about any allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances, especially the following:

artificial sweeteners
such anesthetics as benzocaine, procaine, or tetracaine
diabetes medicine taken by mouth
hair dyes
sulfa medicines
water pills
cinnamon flavoring

People with skin conditions or diseases should check with their physicians before using a sunscreen. This is especially true of people with conditions that get worse with exposure to light.

Side effects

The most common side effects are drying or tightening of the skin. This problem does not need medical attention unless it does not improve.Other side effects are rare, but possible. If any of the following symptoms occur, check with a physician as soon as possible:

acne
burning, itching, or stinging of the skin
redness or swelling of the skin
rash, with or without blisters that ooze and become crusted
pain in hairy parts of body
pus in hair follicles

Interactions

Anyone who is using a prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) drug that is applied to the skin should check with a physician before using a sunscreen.

Resources

Books

Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD., editors. "Pigmentation Disorders." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2004.Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD., editors. "Reactions to Sunlight." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2004.

Periodicals

Levy, Stanley B., MD. "Sunscreens and Photoprotection." eMedicine November 25, 2002. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic510.htm.Mahe, E., E. Morelon, J. Fermanian, et al. "RenalTransplant Recipients and Sun Protection." Transplantation 78 (September 15, 2004): 741-744.Murphy, G. "Ultraviolet Light and Rosacea." Cutis 74, Supplement 3 (September 2004): 13-16, 32-34.Tanaka, S., T. Sato, N. Akimoto, et al. "Prevention of UVBInduced Photoinflammation and Photoaging by a Polymethoxy Flavonoid, Nobiletin, in Human Keratinocytes in Vivo and in Vitro." Biochemical Pharmacology 68 (August 1, 2004): 433-439.

Organizations

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). P. O. Box 4014, Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014. (847) 330-0230. http://www.aad.org.American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). 444 East Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. (847) 228-9900. http://www.plasticsurgery.org.National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20982. Cancer Information Service: (800) 4-CANCER. http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov.United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857-0001. (888) INFOFDA. http://www.fda.gov.

Key terms

Hair follicle — A tiny pit in the skin from which hair grows.Melanoma — A rapidly spreading and deadly form of cancer that usually occurs on the skin.Ozone — A gas found in the atmosphere. A layer of ozone about 15 mi (24 km) above Earth's surface helps protect living things from the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.Pus — Thick, whitish or yellowish fluid that forms in infected tissue.Rosacea — A chronic skin disease characterized by persistent redness of the skin and periodic outbreaks of pustules, usually affecting the middle third of the face.Ultraviolet rays — Invisible light rays with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light but longer than that of x rays.

sunscreens

Creams or other preparations used to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight. Most contain para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) which absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

Patient discussion about sunscreens

Q. what does a sun block cream do? and what are a UV rays? A. It blocks out harmful Ultra violet rays from the skin as the previous entries have related; however it can also block your ability to produce vitamin D. If you live in a northerly area or one that receives limited sunlight, its recommended to get at least 15 minutes of sun a day (this is probably best done with minimal sunblock) and according to personnal sun sensitivity. Another thing to keep in mind is that sunblock works best if applied 20 minutes before sun exposure.

More discussions about sunscreens

单词	sunscreens
释义	DictionarySeesunscreen sunscreens Sunscreens Definition Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Purpose Everyone needs a little sunshine. About 15 minutes of exposure a day helps the body make Vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. But longer exposure may cause many problems, from wrinkles to skin cancer. One particularly deadly form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, has been on the rise in recent decades, as tanning has become more popular. Over the same period, scientists have warned that the thin layer of ozone that protects life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is being depleted. This allows more UV radiation to get through, adding to the risk of overexposure.Sunscreens help protect against the sun's damaging effects. But just how much protection they provide is a matter of debate. The sun gives off two kinds of ultraviolet radiation, called UV-A and UV-B. For many years, experts thought that only UV-B was harmful. However, recent research suggests that UVA may be just as dangerous as UV-B, although its effects may take longer to show up. In particular, UV-A may have a role in causing melanoma. Most sunscreen products contain ingredients that provide adequate protection only against UV-B rays. Even those labeled as broad-spectrum sunscreens may offer only partial protection against UV-A radiation. Those containing the ingredient avobenzone give the most protection against UV-A rays.Some medical experts are concerned that sunscreens give people a false sense of security, allowing them to stay in the sun longer than they should. Although sunscreens protect the skin from burning, they may not protect against other kinds of damage. A number of studies suggest that people who use sunscreens may actually increase their risk of melanoma because they spend too much time in the sun. This does not mean that people should stop using sunscreens. It means that they should not rely on sunscreens alone for protection. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreens should be one part of sun protection, along with wide-brimmed hats and tightly-woven clothing that covers the arms and legs.Sunscreens are also recommended for patients with rosacea or other skin disorders that are aggravated by exposure to sunlight. Description Many brands of sunscreens are available, containing a variety of ingredients. The active ingredients work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering some or all of the sun's rays. Most sunscreen products contain combinations of ingredients.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required sunscreen products to carry a sun protection factor (SPF) rating on their labels since 1999. This number tells the consumer how well the sunscreen protects against burning. The higher the number, the longer a person can stay in the sun without burning.Sunscreens are usually grouped into two major categories, namely chemical absorbers and physical blockers. Chemical absorbers absorb high-intensity UV rays while physical blockers reflect or scatter them. Chemical absorber compounds include avobenzone, padimate O, octyl methoxycinnamate, octisalate, and octocrylene. Physical blocker compounds include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The chief drawback of the physical blockers is their tendency to leave a white film on the skin, causing many people to use less of the product than they should for full sun protection.A plant-derived compound that shows promise as a sunscreen is nobiletin, a flavonoid extracted from Citrus depressa or flat orange, a small citrus fruit native to Taiwan and Okinawa. Topical application of nobiletin has been shown to be effective in preventing the swelling and reddening of the skin associated with overexposure to sunlight.Sunscreen products are sold as lotions, creams, gels, oils, sprays, sticks, and lip balms, and can be bought without a physician's prescription. Recommended dosage One should be sure to read the instructions that come with the product. Some need to be applied as long as one or two hours before sun exposure. Others should be applied 15-30 minutes before exposure, and reapplied frequently during exposure.People should apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed parts of the skin, including the hands, feet, nose, ears, neck, scalp (if the hair is thin or very short), and eyelids. They should take care not to get sunscreen in the eyes, as it can cause irritation. People should also use a lip balm containing sunscreen to protect the lips, and reapply sunscreen liberally every 1-2 hours—more frequently when perspiring heavily or after swimming. Precautions Sunscreen alone will not provide full protection from the sun. When possible, one should wear a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirts or blouses, and sunglasses. Try to stay out of the sun between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. (11 A.M. to 3 P.M. Daylight Saving Time), when the sun's rays are strongest. The sun can damage the skin even on cloudy days, so get in the habit of using a sunscreen every day. Be especially careful at high elevations or in areas with surfaces that reflect the sun's rays, such as sand, water, concrete, or snow.Sunlamps, tanning beds, and tanning booths were once thought to be safer than the sun, because they give off mainly UV-A rays. However, UV-A rays are now known to cause serious skin damage and may increase the risk of melanoma. Heatlh experts advise people not to use these tanning devices.People with fair skin, blond, red or light-brown hair, and blue or light-colored eyes are at greatest risk for developing skin cancer. So are people with many large skin moles. These people should avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible. However, even dark-skinned people, including African Americans and Hispanic Americans may suffer skin damage from the sun and should be careful about exposure.Other groups of people who should minimize sun exposure are those who have had organ transplants or recent plastic surgery. Patients who have received organ transplants have a greatly increased risk of developing skin cancer, and the facial skin of people who have had face lifts or similar plastic surgery procedures sunburns more easily than intact skin.Sunscreens should not be used on infants under 6 months of age because of the risk of side effects. Instead, children this young should be kept out of the sun. Children over 6 months should be protected with clothing and sunscreens of at least SPF 15, preferably lotions. Sunscreens containing alcohol should not be used on children because they may irritate the skin.Older people who stay out of the sun and use sunscreens may not produce enough vitamin D in their bodies. They may need to increase the vitamin D in their diets by including foods such as fortified milk and salmon. A health care professional can help decide if this precaution is necessary.Anyone who has had unusual reactions to any sunscreen ingredients in the past should check with a physician or pharmacist before using a sunscreen. The physician or pharmacist should also be told about any allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances, especially the following: artificial sweeteners such anesthetics as benzocaine, procaine, or tetracaine diabetes medicine taken by mouth hair dyes sulfa medicines water pills cinnamon flavoring People with skin conditions or diseases should check with their physicians before using a sunscreen. This is especially true of people with conditions that get worse with exposure to light. Side effects The most common side effects are drying or tightening of the skin. This problem does not need medical attention unless it does not improve.Other side effects are rare, but possible. If any of the following symptoms occur, check with a physician as soon as possible: acne burning, itching, or stinging of the skin redness or swelling of the skin rash, with or without blisters that ooze and become crusted pain in hairy parts of body pus in hair follicles Interactions Anyone who is using a prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) drug that is applied to the skin should check with a physician before using a sunscreen. Resources Books Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD., editors. "Pigmentation Disorders." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2004.Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD., editors. "Reactions to Sunlight." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 2004. Periodicals Levy, Stanley B., MD. "Sunscreens and Photoprotection." eMedicine November 25, 2002. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic510.htm.Mahe, E., E. Morelon, J. Fermanian, et al. "RenalTransplant Recipients and Sun Protection." Transplantation 78 (September 15, 2004): 741-744.Murphy, G. "Ultraviolet Light and Rosacea." Cutis 74, Supplement 3 (September 2004): 13-16, 32-34.Tanaka, S., T. Sato, N. Akimoto, et al. "Prevention of UVBInduced Photoinflammation and Photoaging by a Polymethoxy Flavonoid, Nobiletin, in Human Keratinocytes in Vivo and in Vitro." Biochemical Pharmacology 68 (August 1, 2004): 433-439. Organizations American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). P. O. Box 4014, Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014. (847) 330-0230. http://www.aad.org.American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). 444 East Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. (847) 228-9900. http://www.plasticsurgery.org.National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20982. Cancer Information Service: (800) 4-CANCER. http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov.United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857-0001. (888) INFOFDA. http://www.fda.gov. Key terms Hair follicle — A tiny pit in the skin from which hair grows.Melanoma — A rapidly spreading and deadly form of cancer that usually occurs on the skin.Ozone — A gas found in the atmosphere. A layer of ozone about 15 mi (24 km) above Earth's surface helps protect living things from the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.Pus — Thick, whitish or yellowish fluid that forms in infected tissue.Rosacea — A chronic skin disease characterized by persistent redness of the skin and periodic outbreaks of pustules, usually affecting the middle third of the face.Ultraviolet rays — Invisible light rays with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light but longer than that of x rays. sunscreens Creams or other preparations used to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight. Most contain para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) which absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Patient discussion about sunscreens Q. what does a sun block cream do? and what are a UV rays? A. It blocks out harmful Ultra violet rays from the skin as the previous entries have related; however it can also block your ability to produce vitamin D. If you live in a northerly area or one that receives limited sunlight, its recommended to get at least 15 minutes of sun a day (this is probably best done with minimal sunblock) and according to personnal sun sensitivity. Another thing to keep in mind is that sunblock works best if applied 20 minutes before sun exposure. More discussions about sunscreens
随便看	web knowledge forum webl webland web lecture archive project web lecture capture device webless webley, everard web library of seventeenth-century music weblication weblications web-like weblike weblikely web link weblink weblink application service provider weblinks web links worth clicking weblint webliography weblish web load balance webloc web location web log