ARTICLE
There is a statement in Genesis that "God created light and declared
it to be good". However, "the deity was silent about ultra-violet light!"
(A Kligman).
The review on this subject, the research quoted and what we have heard
during this symposium clearly show that repeated low doses of UV radiations
are indeed damaging for the skin. Protection is required, but how?
For the majority of the population, it is important to use daily care
products containing UV filtering systems. However, it is no easy task
for consumers to incorporate all the frequently complicated parameters
required for flawless protection against long term effects of solar radiation.
As far as most consumers are concerned, the main deleterious effect of
sun exposure is sunburn. They are not always aware of the long term effects
which may be caused by repeated exposure to UVA radiations. Some manufacturers
have taken advantage of this relative ignorance of the danger by highlighting
the UVB protecting factor as an insurance of the good filtering capacities
of their products.
Dermatologists as well as health authorities and cosmetic industries
should now educate their patients or consumers in the use and selection
of a good suncare product. The UVA protecting factor, determined by standardized
and relevant methods should be an important criterium in this selection.
The photostability of the filtering system should also be taken into consideration.
Finally, given that repeated minor sun exposures account for 80% of the
total lifetime, patients and consumers should be educated not to limit
the use of sunscreens to outdoors or summer months. Thus, the goal of
sun protection should not be limited to protection against acute effects
such as sunburn or photodermatoses, but should also include prevention
of long-term skin damage such as photoaging and skin cancers.
In the rapidly approaching 21st Century, it is estimated that fully
20% of the population in the developed nations of the world will be aged
65 years or older. Those aged 85 and older are already the fastest growing
segment of these societies. Today, a new born baby girl has a 50% chance
to celebrate her 100th birthday. Most laymen are aware that the deterioration
in facial features, previously called premature aging, is really the cumulative
effect of years of heedless exposures to the sun. Much more than appearance
is involved since that same photoaged skin is the substrate for development
of benign and malignant neoplasms. It results from this that the implications
for health and the appearance of the skin are profound.
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