SKIN
DAMAGE FROM OVEREXPOSURE TO THE SUN
Q. Who is most at risk of skin
damage from the sun?
A. Take extra care to
protect babies and children from the sun. Studies show that one or more severe,
blistering sunburns as a child or teenager could increase the risk for
melanoma, an often fatal form of skin cancer.
You need to be especially careful to play it safe in the sun if you:
- have fair skin; blond, red,
or light brown hair; and blue green, or gray eyes
- have freckles and burn before
tanning
- spend a lot of time outdoors
- were previously treated for
skin cancer
- have a family history of skin
cancer, especially melanoma
- work indoors all week and
then try to catch up on your tan on weekends
- live or vacation at high altitudes
(ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases 4 to 5 percent for every
1,000 feet above sea level)
- live or vacation close to the
equator
- have certain diseases, such
as lupus erythematosus
- take certain medicines,
including:
- acne medicines
- antibiotics, such as
tetracyclines
- antihistamines
- oral contraceptives
containing estrogen
- nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen sodium
- phenothiazines (major
tranquilizers and anti-nausea drugs)
- sulfa drugs
- tricyclic
antidepressants
- thiazide diuretics
- sulfonylureas, such as
oral anti-diabetics.
Ask your doctor about the risk of any medicines you may be
taking that could be harmful to you when you are in the sun.
Source: Excerpted from FDA Consumer, June 1996: Seven Steps
to Safer Sunning
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