2023-06-20 12:00:00
Sun-tanned skin is considered the ideal of beauty and for many is a sign of health and attractiveness. When temperatures rise, the temptation to sunbathe is great.
ST. POLTEN. Almost everyone is affected by sunburn at least once in their life and the symptoms usually disappear quickly. However, the skin can store this event for a lifetime, which sometimes leads to serious long-term consequences, especially in the case of repeated sunburns. A conscious and responsible use of solar radiation is therefore very important. Franz Trautinger, Head of the Clinical Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases at the University Hospital St. Pölten, provides information on all of these topics.
“The skin is considered our largest organ, it encloses our body like a protective coat. It takes on important defense functions and also serves as a sensory organ through which we perceive sensations such as pain or touch. In order to preserve the health of the skin into old age, we should protect it as well as possible from harmful environmental influences,”
so Trautinger.
If the skin is exposed to a high level of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or from tanning devices in the course of life, whether at work or in leisure time, the long-term consequences are premature skin aging and an increased incidence of skin cancer. Sunburn in childhood in particular increases the risk of skin cancer considerably.
There are two main groups of skin cancer, the so-called “white skin cancer” (medical: squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma) and “black skin cancer” (medical: melanoma). White skin cancer is very common, especially in older people who have had a lot of sun exposure for years, such as B. Farmers and construction workers. Of all adult patients who visit a dermatologist, 30 percent are affected by at least one preliminary stage. White skin cancer only forms metastases in very rare exceptional cases. The chances of recovery are therefore usually very high and the treatment is usually carried out with simple surgical interventions.
In contrast, melanoma is rarer but can be significantly more dangerous. The time factor plays an important role here. Prof. Trautinger notes:
“Early detection is crucial because if melanomas are removed – while they are still superficial, the prognosis for most affected people is very good. Melanomas often look like birthmarks at first. There is a simple rule of thumb called the ABCD rule to help distinguish melanoma from birthmarks.”
“A” stands for asymmetry, ie while a mole is usually round or oval, a melanoma often grows more strongly in one direction and thus becomes irregular. The boundary (B) is another distinguishing feature – a melanoma is often poorly defined and can have extensions. The color (Colorit – C) also provides important information: a birthmark is brown to black, but normally has a uniform color tone. The presence of a wide variety of color shades from light brown, dark brown to gray, black or even red is suspicious for melanoma. Finally, the diameter (D) can also be a warning sign, especially if it is larger than five mm.
A note from the skin specialist:
“As soon as a mole begins to change, that’s a reason to consult a registered dermatologist, who can usually assess the change with simple examinations.”
How often a check-up by the dermatologist is necessary depends on the respective skin type. After a detailed examination, specialists can make a recommendation as to the intervals at which mole screening should be carried out.
In addition to solar radiation, the use of solariums is a scientifically proven risk factor for the development of skin cancer. In addition, a solarium tan does not protect – as many people believe – from subsequent exposure to the sun on vacation. A certain level of protection can only be built up if you seek out the natural sun, allow yourself to be tanned slowly and avoid sunburn at the same time.
In any case, it is important to remember a few “sun rules”. The best protection against sunburn and long-term effects is to avoid the blazing sun, especially around midday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (“When your own shadow is shorter than you are tall.”). When staying in the sun, the body can be protected by clothing and a cap. Those parts of the skin that are not protected by clothing should be sufficiently covered with sunscreen before going out in the sun. Prof. Dr. Trautinger notes that the sunscreen is often applied too thinly. 30 ml, i.e. a “Stamperl” full, is the rule of thumb for the whole body of an adult.
For a healthy and youthful looking skin is a consistently carried out
Sunscreen essential.
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