Please write a short response to students’ posts.
The reply is a response to the posting’s questions and epiphanies and reflects high-level thinking.
Must have a minimum of 1 reference for reply
Reference must be in APA format and published within the last five years.
Student post 1:
My Thoughts from Module 6 lectures are regarding UV radiation and sunscreens. These lectures spoke to me, as I am a fair complected individual. My complexion goes from very fair, to looking like a fried lobster with less than 30 minutes of sun exposure. I have experienced more than my share of sunburns throughout my lifetime, especially as a teenager. As I grow older and wiser, I protect my skin more and wear long-sleeved shirts, big hats, and pants while outdoors. This has not always been my common practice, it has taken years of experience, and I want better for my patients.
I need to know about sunscreens, especially as I care for teenagers and those with significant sun exposure. Wearing sunscreen can help reduce the harmful effects caused by sunlight exposure. Understanding UV radiation and knowing which sunscreens provide the best protection will help me with educating my patients on how they can best protect themselves from harmful effects caused by sun exposure.
Questions:
What are the dermatological effects of UVA and UVB radiation?
What sunscreens provide the best coverage?
What is an organic sunscreen?
Epiphanies:
The sun’s rays put off UV radiation. UV radiation causes sunburns, premature aging of skin, skin cancer, immunosuppression, and can induce photosensitivity reactions to drugs. There are different types of UV radiation, including UVB (penetrates our epidermis) and UVA (penetrates our epidermis and deep into the dermis). UVA radiation is divided into UVA2 and UVA1.
UVB primarily causes:
Tanning
Sunburn
UVA is primary cause of:
Immunosuppression
Photosensitivity drug reactions
Photoaging of skin
wrinkling
yellowing
breakdown of elastic fibers
UVA and UVB both promote DNA damage, therefore can cause premalignant actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant and nonmalignant melanoma.
Organic sunscreens are chemical sunscreens. 5 of the 15 approved organic sunscreens absorb UVA2, 4 protect against UVA2 and UVB, and Avobenzone is the only organic chemical sunscreen that absorbs UVA1. Chemical sunscreen compounds must include avobenzone to provide a full range of UV radiation protection. The compound mixture sunscreens that include avobenzone provide protection against UVA and UVB, these are labeled as broad-spectrum sunscreens.
3 basic sunscreen groups:
highly protective:
broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher
protect against sunburn, skin cancer, and photoaging
moderately protective:
broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF 2-14
protect against sunburn
least protective:
ONLY UVB protection,
protects against sunburn only
Moderately and Least protective must carry WARNING label does not protect against skin cancer or photoaging
Sunscreens are not water proof or sweat proof, therefore must be reapplied after swimming or sweating. According to the dermatology lecture, some of the sunscreens that provide the best coverage include physical screens that prevent sun rays from penetrating the skin by reflecting and scattering sunlight, not allowing the solar radiation to be absorbed. According to the lecture, physical screens are inorganic and include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Tsai & Chien (2022) states, “titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the only ingredients that are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) by the US FDA” (p. 199). Physical sunscreens are also referred to as natural or mineral sunscreens. Per the lecture, physical screens protect against UVB, UVA2, and UVA1, and they may be applied to the nose, lips, and ear tips.
Sunscreens help to prevent cancer. All individuals exposed to the sun’s rays need protection. For best protection against UV radiation caused by sun exposure I will recommend my patients to use inorganic physical sunscreens or a highly protective broad-spectrum organic sunscreen with SPF of 30 or greater (Tsai & Chien, 2022). The chosen sunscreen should be water resistant. For my patients with an allergy to Avobenzone I will recommend them to use inorganic physical sunscreens.
Reference
Tsai, J., & Chien, A. L. (2022). Photoprotection for skin of color. American journal of clinical dermatology, 23(2), 195-205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-021-00670-zLinks to an external site.
