AUSTIN (KXAN) — As outdoor activities increase during the summer months, dermatologists warn people of the consequences of excess sun exposure.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to a study from the American Academy of Dermatology Association. With July being Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Month, experts said it is important to educate people on the dangers of excessive sun exposure and the importance of protective measures.
KXAN’s Avery Travis and Will DuPree spoke with Doctor Eric Bernstein, a dermatologist and laser surgeon, to talk about the risks of excessive sun exposure and protective measures.
The full transcript below has been edited for clarity.
Will DuPree: Skin cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer here in the US, according to the American Cancer Society. And experts want everyone to know, roughly 90% of skin cancers are caused by excess sun exposure.
Avery Travis: As we head into the thick of summer and spend more time outside, experts are also warning that the increasing intensity of ultraviolent radiation poses a lot of other health risks, such as premature aging, damage to the immune system, and even some impacts and risks for our eyes.
So we want to bring in an expert, Dr. Eric Bernstein, dermatologist and laser surgeon to explore more of this. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Eric Bernstein: I appreciate you having me. It’s my favorite topic.
Travis: So first back up and explain for us what UV radiation really is. People may see it on labels, hear about it, but how does it work? And how does it interact with our bodies?
Bernstein: So the sun puts out all kinds of rays, right? It’s like a continuum, and the short wavelength rays are the most energetic and most dangerous. And the reason they’re called ultraviolet is because we can’t see them. So they’re below purple in terms of the wavelength. They’re shorter wavelength than purple, very high energy, and it damages our DNA, and so we have to protect ourselves from that.
The part people don’t get is you can’t see it and you can’t feel it, so it’s invisible. Really what you feel the heat of the sun is the infrared.
A couple things I tell all my patients, number one, obviously SPF 30 sunscreen — reapply in the sun. The best sunscreen is the one you use, so find one that you like.
But people only count the sun when they’re at the beach, and you’re getting some when you’re walking around, going to the mailbox. Even when you’re driving in your car you need clear UV blocking window film on the side windows in your car — windshields have plastic to prevent shattering that blocks UVA, but typical windows without tint that’s been applied don’t have that. And you can get clear film because you want to be able to see at night, and blocking that UV means you can still see because it’s invisible. You can block all of it and not affect your ability to see.
DuPree: Well, we just want to point out as well that July is UV Awareness Month, and Dr. Bernstein, what are some things that you think people do not know or maybe understand about protecting their skin from damage?
Bernstein: Well, one of the big things is two organs that see the sun right, our skin and our eyes. So for our eyes, I wear, I hope you don’t mind if I mention brands. I’m not affiliated with any brands. But I wear sunglasses, these Vuarnets, that have side shields to prevent the light from coming in the sides when the sun’s behind me. I wear brown sunglass lenses to block the blue wavelengths of light. I have a filter in my eyeglasses called Crizal that blocks blue light, so that’s protecting your eyes.
What most people don’t realize is the sun is the sun. Doesn’t matter if you’re at the beach. Doesn’t matter if you’re trying. You’re getting UV exposure.
Where we study this is the American Society of Photobiology, or the ASP. They do all the science to research how much sun protection you get from a hat, from the car, whatever you know, how much UV you get in the car. And then we translate that into plain English. So you’ll get a lot of sun wearing a hat. It helps, but you get a lot of reflection from the ground and from, for example, the beach, from sand. When you’re under an umbrella, you’re cool, right? And it’s dark, but that UV is almost the same as what you’re getting, not under the umbrella. I mean, it gives you an SPF depending on the umbrella, maybe two. So just remember that when you don’t think you’re getting sun, you’re getting sun.
I wear sun protective clothing. In fact, I’m at the beach now. I’m literally at the beach now, and I’m wearing a shirt like one of those rash guards, and then I got these real thin pants on. It kind of look a little ridiculous, you know, I’m covered up, but I’m cool and I’m protected, and SPF 30 is enough, but you got to reapply in the sun. That’s really what you need to know.
Travis: Okay, the last thing. We just have a few moments with you, but we know your work also focuses on photo aging. People may know the risks of skin cancer and some of those skin diseases, but talk about, you know, even just some of the aging of their skin that the sun can cause, and maybe some ways to treat that.
Bernstein: Well, first of all, it’s all from the sun; the aging, right? There’s five key signs of skin aging, fine lines and wrinkles and large pores, sagging skin, brown spots and redness. These are 100% from the sun. If you don’t believe me, look at the skin on your bottom, and then look at the skin on your face, in the back of your neck, and there’s a massive difference, and it’s only from the sun. Drivers are more aged on the driver’s side, passenger on the passengers.
And what can you do to repair the skin? Well, obviously, you start with the sunscreen, then in the evening, Alpha hydroxy acids, or the AHA’s, glycolic acid being the most common, retinoids like tretinoin or Retin A, and also lasers.
We use lasers to rejuvenate the skin, and we use different lasers depending on what the main aspects of aging are, whether it’s redness, whether it’s wrinkles and fine lines. And you know, obviously I’m a dermatologist, and I’m biased, but I think starting with your dermatologist is really where to get the questions answered.
Travis: Dr. Bernstein, thank you so much for these amazing reminders as folks maybe head on trips or even just like you said, walking out their front door today.
Bernstein: I appreciate that, and you can go to the ASP website for American Society for Photobiology and get a lot of good information as well. I really appreciate you having me on, this is super important.
DuPree: We hope that you enjoy your time there at the beach and stay safe too.