"Melanoma is, luckily, the least frequent [of skin cancers]. It's also the most fatal," says Dr. Beatrice Wang, director of the Melanoma Clinic at Montreal's McGill University. Unfortunately, it is on the rise. "We get about 5,500 new cases a year. Twenty years ago, the lifetime risk [of developing melanoma] was 1 in 85; now, it's 1 in 70."
Interesting-but questionable-science has emerged suggesting that more sun exposure, even from tanning lamps, may be good for Canadians. "Tanning-bed exposure would be very useful [to produce significant amounts of vitamin D]," says researcher Richard B. Setlow, referring to the findings of a study he worked on at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., along with colleagues in Norway. The research showed that people living well north of the southern U.S. border produce much less vitamin D from sun exposure than people close to or south of the U.S. border, especially in fall, winter and early spring. Vitamin D's benefits? It's been linked with protecting against certain types of internal cancers and multiple sclerosis. But, if you've already got your bikini on, ready to be zapped at your local tanning salon or on a Cuban beach, hold on to your Havaianas.
"Using a tanning bed or natural sunlight to get vitamin D is analogous to smoking cigarettes to lose weight," says Toronto dermatologist Dr. Paul Cohen, explaining tanning lamps don't produce vitamin D (UVB rays are the vitamin D promoter) and that they cause premature aging and skin cancer. "The real trick is a combo of vitamin supplements and some sun exposure," he says. (Dietary sources are also an option Setlow proposes. And in June 2007, the Canadian Cancer Society announced a first-time recommended daily intake of vitamin D of 1,000 IUs in fall and winter.) But don't mistake "some sun exposure" with a full day of tanning without SPF. "You don't need a lot of sun to get vitamin D," says Dr. Cohen. "In the summer, even while wearing SPF 15, 5-10 minutes of midday sun helps you make enough vitamin D."
Besides this sunshine-vitamin research, exciting new findings in sun-protection science may mean you might soon be able to pop a pill for extra protection against UV rays.
Other news:
-- Natural compounds-carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene-may be beneficial in absorbing UV rays as well as protecting cells and the DNA against UV-derived damaging free radicals, both taken internally and applied topically.
-- A nutritional supplement known as Glisodin has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the severity of redness from sunburn.
-- A recent study at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City suggests it may be necessary to focus on appearance issues, and even depression, to discourage young women who habitually tan.
But while these advancements are exciting, they remain works in progress for now. The best ways to protect yourself are the tried and true methods we all know about: namely, sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. The question remains, though: why is it that so many of us take those sun-safety tips as seriously as the latest tabloid gossip?
"Because you don't see the effects until 20 years later, [a lot of people] don't heed the warnings," says Dr. Cohen. "And a lot of time, people are under the misguided belief that, if your skin is not burned, it's OK. A tan is about an SPF of 2-you've already damaged [your skin], and SPF 2 is not going to protect your skin a whole lot. Bottom line is, take vitamin D supplements and wear an SPF of at least 15 every day of the year."
