KECK Gertrud, CABAJ A., SCHAUBERGER G.(1993): Sonne - plus- minus. Informationsbroschüre des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit, Sport und Konsumentenschutz, Vienna

THE SUN

PLUS MINUS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEHAVIOUR

Solar radiation has not only positive effects, it can also damage your health:

Knowledge and intelligence protect you

Skin cancer caused by UV-radiation is increasing. If you practice your occupation outdoors, if you stay in the sun during leisure time or holidays, then pay attention to the recommendations on the next pages.

Knowledge

Solar radiation contains besides visible light also infrared and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Irradiation by the sun for many years but also by artificial sources, for instance solaria, can lead to skin cancer.

Check your UV-consciousness:
- Pay attention to the essential general risk factors "intensive sun-tanning for many years" and "frequent sun-burning"?
- Different persons have varying susceptibility against UV- radiation. Assign yourself to one of the 4 skin types described below.
- Persons with special risk-factors exist. Recollect whether one or more of the mentioned risks apply to you:
- Am I skin type I or II ?
  
  Have I got a great number of nevi (moles) ?
  
  Have I a disposition for freckles ?
  
  Did I already have severe sunburns, especially during childhood ?
  
  Are there or were there cases of melanoma (malignant skin cancer) in my family ?
  
  Do I use photoactive medicaments ? (ask doctor or chemist)
  
  Did I already have an extended skin damage from sunlight or a malignant skin damage or a preliminary stage of it ?
  
  Have I a skin decease ? (ask doctor)
- Do you take into account in your behaviour that the intensity of UV-radiation can vary ? (noon, height above sealevel, snow, sea etc.).

Intelligence

In contrast to many other environmental influences protection against UV-radiation is easy:
Clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, but also reasonable behaviour diminish damage and risk.

Pay attention to the following recommendations, please:
- Persons who have found out special risk factors for themselves should avoid irradiation by the sun if possible.
- Children younger than 14 years should be especially protected because of the risk of melanoma.
- Your skin is your UV-warning device. You should never stay so long in the sun that the skin shows reddening, which, however, comes only 8 hours after irradiation. Mind: In midsummer, under direct irradiation, this can happen already after 20 minutes.
- Therefore wear clothing which protects your skin (T-shirt, sun hat) when working in the sun (occupation, sports, etc.). Do not forget sunglasses - for children also.
- Use sunscreens with appropriate protection factor.
- Your behaviour during leisure time and holidays can particularly increase your UV-burden.
- Consult immediately your doctor if you notice skin changes.
- You should not take more than 30 to 50 sun baths (without skin reddening) that is about 30 to 50 MED per year.

Skin Types

Skin Type I	Skin particularly bright; freckles; hair reddish;
	tans never; always sunburn
Skin Type II	Skin somehow darker than I; rarely freckles; tans
	weakly; high inclination to sunburn
Skin Type III	Skin bright to light-brown; no freckles; good
	tanning ability; rather low inclinitation to sunburn
Skin Type IV	Skin light-brown to olive; no freckles; very good
	tanning ability; very low inclination to sunburn

"MED" a measure for orientation

1 MED (minimal erythemal dose) is the unit of biologically effective UV-exposure. An irradiation by the sun with such an intensity and duration that a just noticeable skin reddening appears corresponds to a dose of 1 MED. As you orientate yourself for your meal on Joule (or calories), you should take special attentien to the received MED while staying in the sun. (see MED-guide overleaf).

MED-Guide

A connection exists between the UV-radiation received by the skin for many years and the risk of developing skin cancer. A limitation of UV-exposure, that is the received MED, is therefore necessary. Pay attention to this, especially during leisure time and holidays. The following scheme shall help you to assess UV- exposures correctly.
MED in leisure time and holidays A Starting time
UV-dose varies greatly, depending on season and daytime. The starting time shows (for cloudless weather) the time (in minutes) after which 1 MED is received on a horizontal plane. This could be for instance on the face of a person, who is lying in the sun. The time values are for skin type II.
```
Time of the day   10:00  11:00  12:00  13:00  14:00  15:00

April                     60     45     40     40     45 

May                 70    45     35     30     30     35 

June                50    30     25     20     20     25

July                50    35     25     25     25     25

August              70    45     35     30     30     35

September                 65     45     40     45

October                   90     70     70     90
```
B Skin type value
The varying susceptibility of the different skin types is taken into account by the skin type value B. Multiply starting time by your skin type value: AxB.
```
Skin type I :  B=0.8
Skin type II:  B=1.0
Skin type III: B=1.5
Skin type IV:  B=2.0
```
C Prolongation factor
During different activities the face is les exposed than AxB gives. The time for 1 MED gets longer. Therefore multiply AxB by the prolongation factor C which applies to your activity. AxBxC is the time for 1 MED without sunscreen.
```
Swimming: 
     Pool: C=4
     Sea:  C=2
Tennis:    C=4
Golf:      C=4
Walking:   C=3
Boating:   C=3
Gardening: C=6
```
D Sun protection factor
If you use sunscreens multiply by the sun protection factor D given on the preparation. AxBxCxD gives the time for 1 MED using a sunscreen.
```
Sun protection factor D: See indication on the preparation
```
Example

June, noon, walk, cloudless sky, person with skin type III:
```
Starting time A:            A=20 minutes
Skin type value B:          B=1.5
Prolongation factor C:      C=3
```
Time for 1 MED without sunscreen: AxBxC = 20 x 1.5 x 3 = 90 minutes
Using a sunscreen with sun protection factor D=4: AxBxCxD = 20 x 1.5 x 3 x 4= 360 minutes, or 6 hours.

At present the individual behaviour has the highest significance for the increase of skin cancer. It is up to you to decrease your risk without loss of pleasure in summer, sun and holidays: Knowledge and intelligence is protecting you.

Last modification: 2018 by Alois.Schmalwieser()vetmeduni.ac.at