Quest for tan could put your health at risk Apr 23, 2008
The two types of ultraviolet radiation are ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. UVB long has been associated with sunburn, while UVA has been recognized as a deeper penetrating radiation that causes more damage, Webster said. Webster said tanning beds expose people to UVA rays, which cause skin cancer and premature aging. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Caffeine May Protect Against Skin Cancer Apr 17, 2008
Caffeine acts as a sort of "sun screen" when given to mice before their skin is exposed to and damaged by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, and this ultimately prevents the development of skin cancer, according to researchers. In the current issue of Cancer Research, the investigators also describe the mechanism that may be responsible for this protection. (Newsmax)
Canadians with psoriasis have spoken and they want more support Apr 11, 2008
Edmonton-based dermatologist Dr. Wasel notes, "This study confirms what most practicing dermatologists already suspect: psoriasis is a condition that negatively impacts the quality of life of sufferers - physically, emotionally and socially." Dr. Wasel, a member of the Psoriasis Support Canada Material Review Board, explains, "Many patients are frustrated and feel under-treated, and a surprising number of sufferers are not undergoing any treatment or have given up on treatments altogether." He... (Canada Newswire)
Vitamin D: An oldie vies for nutrient of the decade Feb 21, 2008
Through most of human history, sunlight was the primary source of vitamin D, which is formed in skin exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (the UV light that causes sunburns). Thus, to determine how much vitamin D is needed from food and supplements, take into account factors like skin color, where you live, time of year, time spent out of doors, use of sunscreens and coverups and age. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Multiple Skin Cancer Risk Behaviors Are Common Among US Adults Jan 12, 2008
30, 2005) A decreased ability to repair chromosomal damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation in test tubes may be associated with an increased risk of the common skin cancers basal cell. . (Science Daily)
Cell Defenses and the Sunshine Vitamin Jan 8, 2008
But we can also make it ourselves, through a chemical reaction that happens in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Strictly speaking, then, vitamin D is not a vitamin at all, because with moderate UVB exposure, we do not need to get it from food. (Scientific American)
Lack Of Sunlight May Increase Lung Cancer Risk Dec 24, 2007
The researchers looked at the association between latitude, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light, and rates of lung cancer according to age in 111 countries across several continents ... Journal reference: Could ultraviolet B irradiance and vitamin D be associated with lower incidence rates of lung cancer. (Science Daily)
Sunlight may help reduce lung cancer risk Dec 19, 2007
The study found that lower levels of the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are associated with a higher incidence of lung cancer across 111 countries. In countries where people are exposed to more sunlight -- such as Malawi and Benin -- lung cancer rates are lower than those with fewer hours of sun, such as Britain. (Xinhuanet, China)
Sunlight Helps Put Lung Cancer in the Shade Dec 19, 2007
A new study finds that lower levels of the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are associated with a higher incidence of lung cancer across 111 countries. Still, that doesn't mean that spending more time in the sun will ever offset the risks that come with smoking, according to the study, which is published in the January issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. (MEDLINEplus)
Gene-Based Sunscreen Might Someday Prevent Skin Cancer Dec 11, 2007
This type of damage occurs in humans and mice alike after sustained exposure to the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Once treated and repaired, the UVB-exposed p53 mouse gene resumed its normal cancer-preventing activity, inhibiting the spread and proliferation of tumor cells. (MEDLINEplus)
Dermatologists Share Their Secrets For Maintaining Healthy Skin, Hair And Nails Nov 14, 2007
Use sunscreen every day, preferably one with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Today, many skin care products contain sunscreen and are multifunctional, which allows you to get many skin benefits from one application. (Science Daily)
Antioxidants could provide all-purpose radiation protection Nov 5, 2007
Inositol and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) protected both human skin cells and a skin cancer-prone mouse from exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the damaging radiation found in sunlight, the team reported today at the American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine. According to the researchers, inositol and IP6 could decrease the severity of side effects from radiation therapy, saving healthy cells while simultaneously increasing the... (EurekAlert!)
Are Your Sunscreens Safe? Aug 29, 2007
"We have known for years that the system is 'broken', but with the FDA's recent statement, consumers finally know that what they get over the counter may not be protecting them fully. With the improved system, consumers will see which sunscreens actually work for both UVA and UVB rays." Last week, the FDA proposed long awaited rules covering the ingredients, packaging and testing of sunscreens that claim to protect against ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Many products currently... (PR Newswire)
Making some sense out of your sunscreen Aug 26, 2007
The long-awaited action by the Food and Drug Administration would label every lotion with a 1- to 4-star rating on its ability to block ultraviolet A rays and with improved SPF ratings on blocking ultraviolet B rays, FDA officials said. Labels also would warn consumers to stay out of the sun and cover up to prevent skin cancer. (Sun-Sentinel.com)
FDA Proposes New Rules for Sunscreens Aug 25, 2007
Right now, most commercial sunscreens only screen out ultraviolet B (UVB), not UVA, which is associated with longer and more serious damage deep within the skin. Labels would have up to four stars indicating their effectiveness against UVA rays, the FDA said. (Forbes)
FDA proposes new rule for sunscreen products Aug 25, 2007
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed on Thursday a new regulation that sets standards for formulating, testing and labeling over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drug products with ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection. "For more than 30 years, consumers have been able to identify the level of UVB protection provided by sunscreens using only sunburn protection factor or SPF values," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner of FDA.. (Xinhuanet, China)
Daily Briefing Aug 24, 2007
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed long-delayed rules covering the ingredients, labeling and testing of sunscreens that boast of protecting against both the sun's ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn, and the ultraviolet A rays that cause tanning but also are associated with more serious and longer-term damage. TECHNOLOGY: New PlayStation3 can record live TV. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Your skin can still sizzle despite cooler days this summer Aug 8, 2007
The sunscreen should also provide broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). Ingredients which provide broad-spectrum protection include benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789) and ecamsule (Mexoryl SX), so check the label ingredients. (Inside Bay Area)
Sun-proofing fashion Aug 7, 2007
UPF blocks both ultraviolet A (which ages the skin) and ultraviolet B (which burns the skin). SPF: Stands for Sun Protection Factor. (AZCentral -- Families)
Incidence Of Melanoma On The Rise Aug 5, 2007
(UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. (Science Daily)
Sunscreen labels may not give accurate info, experts say Aug 1, 2007
Also, current labels' SPF ratings express protection against ultraviolet B rays, but not against ultraviolet A rays -- which scientists now say may be even more dangerous in terms of skin cancer, said Dr. Vincent DeLeo, associate professor of dermatology at Columbia University ... One advance: The familiar SPF ratings on sunscreen labels measure the product's protection against UVB, or ultraviolet B rays, which can cause sunburn and skin cancer ... An SPF of 15 blocks 93 percent of the sun's... (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
Caffeine And Exercise May Prevent Skin Cancer Aug 1, 2007
The caffeine and exercise appear to work together to kill off precancerous skin cells whose DNA has been damaged by ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The discovery is yet to be tested in humans. (Medical News Today)
Vitamin D Deficiency Jul 19, 2007
Sunlight and Artificial Ultraviolet B Radiation. Vitamin D Intoxication. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Do Sunscreens Have You Covered? Jul 6, 2007
The F.D.A. in 1978 first proposed a system of labeling products with an S.P.F. or Sun Protection Factor, which measures how effective the product is in preventing burn caused by the sun;s ultraviolet B rays. UVB radiation can also be a factor in skin cancer. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Sunscreens can't guarantee protection Jun 29, 2007
In fact, the sunscreens you grew up using _ those creams you rubbed in before jumping in the waves _ did nothing more than shield you against ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), which is responsible for burns that turn people tomato-red, then blister. For years, it was believed UVB was the primary culprit in skin cancer. (Columbus Telegram, NE)
Choose your pair with care Jun 27, 2007
They are essential to protecting eyes from the sun's ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. That UVA and UVB light can damage your vision, sometimes permanently. (Akron Beacon Journal, OH -- Living)
Sunscreen Users Could Get Burned, Asserts Critics Jun 22, 2007
"Only 16% of the products on the market are both safe and effective, blocking both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation, remaining stable in sunlight, and containing few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards," the group wrote in a report. More than half of the products contained unstable ingredients that can break down under sunlight, leaving the user unwittingly exposed, and many products make unsupported claims about efficacy or stability, the report's... (MedPage Today)
Good Question: What Doesn't An SPF Number Tell Us? Jun 13, 2007
"The SPF is how much it blocks the Ultraviolet B rays," said Crutchfield. "B stands for burn.". (WCCO.com, MN)
Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Risk Jun 9, 2007
However, people need to exercise caution since the sun's ultraviolet B rays also can cause skin cancer; sunscreen blocks most vitamin D production. In addition, the latitude at which you live and your ancestry also influence your body's ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D. People with dark skin have more difficulty making the vitamin. (Newsmax)
Choose your next pair of sunglasses with expert advice Jun 8, 2007
"Especially in sunny Kansas," she says, they're essential to keeping eyes protected from the sun's ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. That UVA and UVB light can damage your vision, sometimes permanently. (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
High-Performance Summer Sporting Gear Jun 3, 2007
(UPF rates protection against both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B waves. . (Forbes)
Docs warn sunworshippers to protect skin Jun 2, 2007
People should also check sunscreen labels to see exactly what the product does; the SPF, or sun protection factor, listed on the bottle only refers to protection against ultraviolet B rays, which primarily cause sunburn. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are the main cause of skin cancer and premature aging, so sunscreens that provide broad UVA and UVB protection are best. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The Importance of Vitamin D May 11, 2007
Yes, it is true that humans can synthesize vitamin D3 in the skin, when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun. According to the institute, sunlight exposure provides most people with their entire vitamin D requirement. (Suite101.com)
New Survey Ranks The Most And Least Sun-smart Cities in US May 8, 2007
Generously apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. (Science Daily)
Top 10 tips to protect skin in summer May 4, 2007
Over the counter sunscreen products use the familiar SPF system to rate the level of protection against the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that causes sunburn. The rating (SPF15, SPF30, etc. (SpiritIndia)
Vitamin D casts cancer prevention in new light Apr 29, 2007
By an unfortunate coincidence, the strong sunshine able to produce vitamin D is the same ultraviolet B light that can also causes sunburns and, eventually, skin cancer. Only brief full-body exposures to bright summer sunshine of 10 or 15 minutes a day are needed to make high amounts of the vitamin. (Globe and Mail)
Black Raspberries Yield Possible Skin Cancer Treatment Apr 20, 2007
Researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center say a topical compound made of black raspberries significantly slows the growth of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin in mice exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the most dangerous light in the solar spectrum. In terms of shutting down the inflammatory response, we ve never seen anything like it, says Dr. Anne VanBuskirk, an assistant professor of surgery in Ohio State s College of Medicine and senior author of the study, presented... (Science Daily)
• Teens tanning for prom, despite restrictions Apr 14, 2007
Two types of ultraviolet radiation are Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB has long been associated with sunburn while UVA has been recognized as a deeper penetrating radiation, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Tanning may protect against melanoma Mar 11, 2007
Modulation of melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor expression on normal human melanocytes: evidence for a regulatory role of ultraviolet B, interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta, endothelin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Br J Dermatol. (Food Consumer)
2 new studies back vitamin D for cancer prevention Feb 6, 2007
Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure of the skin to sunlight, or ultraviolet B (UVB). In the paper, the researchers underscored the importance of limiting sun exposure such that the skin does not change color (tan) or burn. (EurekAlert!)
Skin Cancer Linked To Frequent Driving Feb 3, 2007
According to the AAD, most front windshields are designed to block the sun's ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, while side and rear windows are typically designed to block only UVB rays. Tinting or using UV filters on auto glass may help, along with wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen and protective clothing, Fosko notes in the news release. (CBS News)
Drug Ads / Sunhine / Obesity Jan 31, 2007
The key lies in the amount of ultraviolet b light the skin absorbs--just enough to stimulate a healthy, vitamin d immune response in the skin. The researchers stressed -- too much sun is not a good thing. (WOKR13 Rochester)
A Little Sun Might Shield against Skin Cancer Jan 31, 2007
The key could lie in the amount of ultraviolet B (UVB) light the skin absorbs -- enough to stimulate a healthy, vitamin D-linked immune response in the skin but not so much that it boosts skin cancer risk. "I do think that a little bit of sunlight is good for people, but I think that one of the problems that the American Cancer Society and dermatologists have is, how do you define what a little bit is?" said skin cancer researcher Marianne Berwick, chief of epidemiology at the University of New... (MEDLINEplus)
Chemicals In Brown Algae May Protect Against Skin Cancer Jan 27, 2007
The animal study indicates that chemicals called brown algae polyphenols (BAPs), which are found in a type of brown marine seaweed, might protect against skin cancers caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. UVB radiation in sunlight is thought responsible for 90 percent of the estimated 1. (Science Daily)
