Sun Exposure and Its Effect on Us Presentation by: Sandra Gajewski Date: 05/03/06

Normal Skin –Has 20 cell layers that are organized similar to a brick wall. –Contains healthy amounts of collagen, a protein based substance, that makes up the skin –Very flexible, with a shiny texture –Lacks wrinkles and age spots (younger skin)

Skin Damaged By the Sun Strong visibility of wrinkles, and age spots Drastic loss of flexibility resulting in sagginess caused from the Elastin in the skin to be torn down Strong affinity for cancer Layers decrease in number from 20 to 2

More to it... Darkening of the skin Pigmentation of the skin Increases dryness, scaly-texture Too much exposure to the sun can cause a person to look a lot older than they are!

What exactly is Collagen? It provides structural support for the skin, muscles, and tendons. It is found in fibroblast cells where it creates a fibrous network in which new cells can grow Accounts for 75% of the weight of the dermis Responsible for skin’s resilience and elasticity

What is Elastin? Like Collagen, Elastin is a protein in connective tissue Helps skin resume its original shape after movement Composed of the amino acids, glycine, valine, alanine, and proline Made by linking tropoelastin protein molecules to make an insoluble, strong linked-array

Why is the sun such a problem? Everyone is affected by the sun because we all need to be outdoors We all enjoy activities outdoors Skin cancer caused from the sun is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. along with breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer No one seems to realize the importance of protecting their own skin, but only worry about their outward appearance

A problem for us… Most people receive 80% their lifetime exposure before the age of 18!! You think you might be fine, but the sun burn you receive this summer might take 20 years to become skin cancer! We are more in danger of the getting skin cancer than our older generations because of the depletion of the ozone layer.

What is the ozone layer? Discovered in 1913 by Henri Buisson and Charles Fabry, French Physicists Also known as ozonosphere layer Located in the Earth’s atmosphere and has high concentrations of O3. “Dobson Unit” – device used to measure the total amount of ozone in a column overhead

How was the Ozone created? Sidney Chapman figured out the photochemical mechanisms that give rise to the ozone. Brief Explanation: –The ozone is created in a process where ultraviolet light strikes O2 molecules and splits them up to create ozone O3. Both molecules are unstable, and therefore, create a cycle, the ozone-oxygen cycle whenever the ultraviolet light strikes it.

How the ozone helps our skin… The Ozone helps prevent biological harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted from reaching our skin by absorbing it in the atmosphere.

Ozone Depletion Depleted by free radical catalysts: –Nitric oxide (NO) –Hydroxyl (OH) –Atomic Chlorine and Bromine

The Rays of the Sun Reaching Us… When the ultraviolet light hits our skin and penetrates through, our skin responds in a 3 stage process: 1.) Melanin granules are oxidized by UV light and become darker. 2.) Melanocytes deeper in the epidermis begin to create new melanin granules for further protection. 3.) Melanin granules divide and produce more cells, but the damage has already been done.

Common Cancers Associated with Skin Damage… Basal Cell Carcinoma –Enlarge slowly and can invade into neighboring tissue –Most common on the face –Closely related to Squamous Cell Carcinoma *Melanoma* –Found in melanocytes –Can spread to other tissue through the lymph system or through the blood

Sun Protection Factor -Misunderstanding: SPF 15, for example does not mean you can stay in the sun 15 minutes longer than without sunscreen What it does mean: SPF 15- covers 80% of the sun’s rays SPF 10- covers 90% SPF 20-covers 95% SPF %

UVA, UVB, and UVC UVA rays- less energy, but penetrate the most into skin. These rays are best known for aging. UVB rays- most potent rays that reach the earth.These rays cause burns and ultimately, skin cancer UVC rays- Have the shortest wavelength, the most energy, but do not penetrate the earth’s atmosphere

How we can protect ourselves… Wear skin protection everyday! SPF 15, at the least. Wear proper clothing Wear UVA and UVB shielding sunglasses Try to stay in the shade as much as possible

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