Journal of Community Nursing

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cancer kills thousands more people
than car accidents each year, study
finds’— ).
Part of the problem is the rise
of tanning salons, which according
to the Daily Mail, use powerful
ultraviolet (UV) rays (a primary cause
of melanoma, the most serious type
of skin cancer), and can be set hotter
than the Mediterranean sun.
Another report in the Huffington
Post, also looks at the new NICE
guidelines and highlights the
ongoing confusion around sun
cream strength, which many people
still find difficult to interpret (‘New
sunbathing advice: there’s“no safe
way to tan’’’—
co.uk). The report quotes the new
guidance, advising people to always
wear at least sun protection factor
(SPF)15 when in the sun and
clarifies that higher strengths of
sunscreen (such as SPF30) do not
necessarily mean you won’t burn.
MIXED SIGNALS
So, the best way to avoid the dangers
of sun exposure is to stay out of
the sun altogether, right? Well,
not exactly. As the NICE guidance
itself highlights, it is not as simple
as staying in the shadows, with
many adults in the UK experiencing
low levels of vitamin D, which is
particularly important for healthy
bones and teeth. The NICE guidance,
while stating that there is no safe
level of tanning, also recommends
limited exposure to sunlight to help
build vitamin D levels.
SKIN CARE TODAY 2016,Vol 2, No 1 5
A suntan is a sign that your skin has been damaged by the ultraviolet
(UV) radiation present in sunlight (and which is reproduced by sunbeds),
and is trying to protect itself by making itself darker. This natural form of
protection is not adequate to prevent further UV damage, however, and the
darker the skin becomes, the more harm it has suffered.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, and incidence
rates are rising. While the latest survey by the British Association of
Dermatologists (BAD) shows that the majority of the British public
are aware of the dangers posed by the sun, most do not take appropriate precautions to protect
themselves. Protective clothing such as long-sleeved t-shirts, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, is
the first line of defence against harmful UV rays. As is spending time in the shade during the hottest
part of the day, which is often between 11.00am and 3.00pm in the UK.
Sunscreen is an additional line of defence. A sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at
least 30 and which also offers UVA protection should be applied liberally half an hour before going
into the sun, again just before leaving the house, and then again every two hours or straight after
any activity that may accidentally remove the protection, such as swimming or towel drying. As
most people do not apply enough sunscreen to achieve the advertised SPF, using a product with an
SPF of lower than 30 is not advisable.
Short exposures of the arms and face will help to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. If an
individual is concerned that they might be suffering from low levels of vitamin D they should visit
their GP. Amending the diet to include foods rich in vitamin D and taking vitamin D supplements
are safer alternatives to increasing vitamin D levels than unprotected exposure to the sun.
Nina Goad, head of communications at the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)
SKIN CARE MATTERS i
As nurses, where does that leave
you? What advice should you give
patients on how to experience the
benefits of moderate sun exposure
while avoiding the dangers of skin
cancer? Luckily, the NICE guidance
makes a number of practical
recommendations that you can pass
on to patients:
` To build up vitamin D, people
should expose their arms and legs
to the sun for short periods
` Unfortunately there is no healthy
way to tan and any tanning
increases risk of skin cancer, even
so-called‘base tans’
` People who should take
particular care in the sun,
include children, those with
fair-skin, people with extensive
moles or freckles and the
immunosuppressed (who may