ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (07/05/84)
Let's talk about sunburn a minute... As a recent victim, I've been pondering a few questions on the subject. Everyone knows that UV exposure is bad for pale skin in the long run, and that tanning is an adaptive attempt to reduce the damage. What I am wondering is... * Do people with naturally dark skins suffer any long-term effects from UV exposure, or are they completely immune to problems? * Does a dark tan fully protect the skin, or just reduce the damage? If the latter, how much? (A lot, or a little?) * Is the process of slowly acquiring a dark tan (by limited exposures) as bad as anything else, or is it in fact a healthy thing to do, if you are going to spend time in the sun? * Is it true that the worst effects of sunburn may be due to an excess of vitamin D, and, if so, is there anything you can do about it, other than avoid that vitamin for a few days? * Once you are burned, what REALLY works to (a) reduce the pain and (b) reduce the peeling? If this is a subject of popular interest, please post your responses. Thanks, Alan (ouch) Silverstein
spaf@gatech.UUCP (07/08/84)
Well, two general comments. First of all, use of aspirin can significantly
help sunburn, both in reducing pain and in speeding the healing. I
don't know the exact reasons why it helps the healing, but I know
from experience that it does work.
The other thing that I've learned from experience is that if you take
large doses of PABA for a few weeks, you are less likely to burn
when exposing yourself to the sun for any length of time. PABA is
the same stuff they put in sunblock cremes that you'd normally rub
all over your bod. It also is a vitamin you can get at your local
vitamin emporium.
The above are personal observations and are not to be construed as
informed medical advice.
--
Off the Wall of Gene Spafford
The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
Phone: (404) 894-6169, (404) 894-6170 [messages]
CSNet: Spaf @ GATech ARPA: Spaf%GATech.CSNet @ CSNet-Relay.ARPA
uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,hplabs,ihnp4,masscomp,ut-ngp}!gatech!spaf
...!{rlgvax,sb1,uf-cgrl,unmvax,ut-sally}!gatech!spafsebb@pyuxss.UUCP (S Badian) (07/09/84)
What I know about sunburning- People with dark skin probably suffer less damage because less of the UV rays get thourgh their skin. But a good tan on any- one is a sign of skin damage and that is all. It is your skin's way of minimizing future extreme damage(sunburn). Some doctors believe that a tan(like the real dark ones that have become increasingly popular) is just as or more dangerous than a surburn. You don't feel bad, you look good, but in the mean time you're killing your skin. Tanning ages your skin. It makes it lose its elasticity. Overall, it's just not good for you. For a long time doctors believed that the only dangerous type of UV ray was the type that burned you. And the type that tanned you were safe. So lots of tanning salons showed up because they are able to screen out all the bad rays, and only bombard their customers with the tanning rays. Well, the doctors are starting to change their minds. Some have gone so far as to say that the tanning type are worse for you(probably because they do more long- term damange and give you a sense of safety because you're not burning. So, for your skin's sake, don't go out without some sort of protection, even if you do have a tan. When I was in college I used to lay out in the sun all the time. Now I'm very careful. I hate getting a surburn(aloe is the best relief, look for some thing that is close to 100% aloe gel) and I hate peeling(once it starts, there is nothing you can do; moisturizers are helpful only before you get burned or tanned). Hope this helps you some. Sharon Badian
fuller@mcnc.UUCP (07/10/84)
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. <FLAME> 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. <FLAME OFF> 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.)
keduh@hogpd.UUCP (D.HUDEK) (07/10/84)
<<||>> I happen to be somewhat fair-skinned, and growing up in Texas, I had a chance to learn quite a bit about sunburn(s). Obviously, prevention is the best medicine, but an old "home-remedy" that has always worked for me is to apply white vinegar to the burn. It takes away the pain and often prevents peeling. Why ? I haven't the foggiest idea, but it seems to work nonetheless. In fact, I got quite sunburned on the 4th (gee... Yankee sun can burn you too :-) ) and used vinegar to ease the pain, although I did peel this time. One caveat... I remember some people warning that it would "toughen up" your skin, whatever that implies (us guys are fairly lucky, in that tough, weather-beaten, leathery skin is seen as desirable and macho in some circles :-) ). Also, I wouldn't reccommend going out immediately after using the vinegar... you'll smell like a salad. :-) ihnp4!hogpd!keduh p.s. Some people I know used to apply it with cotton balls, but I use a spray bottle --- it's much easier.
howard@metheus.UUCP (Howard A. Landman) (07/11/84)
With respect to PABA: Yes, this can help if taken internally, but realize that most of the stuff is NOT in your skin and thus isn't protecting it. There are sunscreens which consist mostly/entirely of PABA and alcohol, and when I was rock-climbing that was all I would use. Occasionally I would get sloppy and notice hours later that I had burned badly in a small area of skin that I had neglected to cover! And unlike most other sunscreens, PABA is completely nontoxic. With respect to aloe vera: Sure you can buy it in the store, but why not grow your own? Aloes make wonderful house plants since they can tolerate a wide variety of temperatures and light levels (don't let them get too cold though), and grow rapidly. One or two small to medium plants will supply enough leaves to deal with the average number of burns and sunburns in a 2-person household. You can either pull off the bottom leaf, or keep them in the refrigerator for a few weeks after they fall off. To use, split the leaf the long way, and squeeze the gel out or rub the cut surface on the burn. Also note that aloe is useful on ALL burns (except those where the skin is broken), not just sunburns. And, for me at least, it seems to ease the pain! Howard A. Landman ogcvax!metheus!howard