Are you a “solar-phobe?” Are you so concerned with getting skin cancer that you stay out of the sun completely or cover up every inch of your skin while outside? Dr. Robert S. Stern, chair of the Department of Dermatology at Harvard has coined this term to describe these folks. He also claims that the clever marketing of “ultra”blocking sunscreens and special sun-protective clothing plays directly into these fears.

We all know that sunlight is hard on your skin but the real culprit is a combination of age and sun that dermatologists call photo-aging. The short UVB wavelengths that cause sunburn can also damage DNA and surpress the skin’s immune system. However, the relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer is not as clear as you think. Genes are a factor as is skin type. As for exposure, the “dose” and timing are also critical factors. There are even studies that suggest that suddenly getting a lot of sun is more dangerous than steady exposure over time.

The familiar phrase “summertime, and the living is easy” was obviously written some time ago, before were all aware of the havoc the sun can create. However, Mr. Sunshine gets a bad rap these days. After all, the same DNA-damaging, sunburn-causing UVB wavelengths that sunscreens are designed to block also do some good: They kick off the chemical and metabolic chain reaction that produces vitamin D. Research shows that many people have low vitamin D levels. There is a well-documented relationship between low vitamin D levels and poor bone health. Getting some sun may also shake off the wintertime blues. Research suggests that light hitting your skin, not just your eyes, helps reverse seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Moreover, being outside gets us doing activities like gardening, golfing and swimming.

Other evidence suggests that exposure when you are young, (before your 20th birthday,  matters the most. Studies have shown that adolescence is the most dangerous time to get a sunburn. (Remember dousing yourself with baby oil anyone?) However recent sun exposure doesn’t seem to be associated with basal cell carcinoma, the mildest form of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma appears to be different. Cumulative and recent exposure to sunlight at any age is strongly associated with actinic keratoses, scaly growths on the skin that are a risk factor for that type of skin cancer.

Protecting Children

The sun's rays are risky for all of us, but especially for infants, toddlers, children, and teens. By protecting your child's skin, you can help prevent sunburn -- and greatly cut skin cancer risk later on. Using a protective hat and plenty of sunscreen is an important first step in protecting your child’s delicate skin. It’s when they figure out how to take their hat off or give you a hard time allowing you to put on their protection is when problems start. Remember several severe sunburns in a child doubles the risk of melanoma later in life. Adelaide Herbert, MD, director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Texas Medical School says, “If you teach kids early on to protect their skin, they’ll continue as they get older.”