Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mcnc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!akgua!mcnc!fuller From: fuller@mcnc.UUCP Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: Let's talk about sunburn (ouch) Message-ID: <2149@mcnc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 10-Jul-84 12:20:16 EDT Article-I.D.: mcnc.2149 Posted: Tue Jul 10 12:20:16 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 12-Jul-84 01:28:24 EDT References: <17400003@hpfcla.UUCP>, <359@pyuxss.UUCP> Organization: Microelectronics Ctr. of NC; RTP, NC Lines: 25 I grew up in Florida. There was a tremendous peer pressure to be tanned. Being fair skinned it was annually a painful experience for me. I've also learned recently that those summer overexposures are still affecting me, in the form of skin problems of (so far) noncancerous types. Believe me, over exposure to sun is a bad idea. How much exposure is injurious is dependent on your skin type, but you won't know for years whether you've overdone it. And then it's too late. I have only anecdotal knowledge of the effects on health of sun exposure, but I've never heard of anyone whose health was improved by being exposed to the point of sunburn. I've certainly heard of lots of cases where the opposite was true. In addition to the immediate pain, I've seen cases of pigmentation disorders (permanent unsightly brown patches), allergic reactions, scar tissue formation, and of course, skin cancer. The pressure to turn your skin brown is a prime example of Madison Avenue hype which has been swallowed by our society. The people promoting it should be prosecuted. To answer your specific questions: Dark skinned people can also burn, particularly in sensitive areas like the lips, nose, and ears. A tan is effective only in preventing immediate sunburn, but probably not in reducing long term effects. I have no idea what Vitamin D has to do with it, and I suspect no one else does either. Ointments containing PABA are effective antiburning agents. Once burned, aloe is effective in reducing pain, and, if applied promptly, may be helpful in preventing peeling (although this is dependent on how badly you've burned, and I have no conclusive evidence that it is true at all.)