No Safe Tan : Sunglasses, Tanning Devices, Sunscreens

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

(Page 2 of 3)

Indeed, remarks Sober, to convince themselves about how the sun ages, people should look at the skin under the arm or on the buttocks. It's beautiful, wrinkle-free skin," he says. You'll see some intrinsic aging it's thinner, and it heals less quickly. But if you stay out of the sun from early in life, by middle age you will look younger, perhaps by as much as 20 years."

UV radiation can damage the eyes as well. There is data on Chesapeake Bay watermen who spend large amounts of time on the water that show those who wore sun protection developed fewer cataracts, says Vincent Giovinazzo, M.D., member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's committee on sports ophthalmology and eye safety. We feel that if you are out in the sun long enough to get a tan or burn, you should be wearing some protection for your eyes," he says.

Sunglasses

But not just any sunglasses will protect, no matter how expensive or glamorous they are. Basic sunglass labeling should help consumers make the right purchase. FDA and the Sunglass Association of America have agreed that manufacturers may voluntarily label sunglass products according to the performance standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in New York, says Denis McCarthy, chief of FDA's surgical and diagnostic branch.

According to ANSI, sunglasses fall into three categories: cosmetic use lightly tinted for wear in mild sunlight, to block at least 70 percent of UVB and 20 percent of UVA; general purpose medium-dark tinted for most outdoor use, to block at least 95 percent of UVB and at least 60 percent of UVA; and special purpose dark-tinted glasses for intense sunlight, to block at least 99 percent of UVB and 60 percent of UVA.

For the maximum eye protection, however, says Giovinazzo, people need sunglasses that ensure 95 to 100 percent blockage of both UVA and UVB radiation. In addition, Look for a wide frame that wraps around. Small glasses may be stylish, but they let lots of light seep in," he says. Cost is not a factor, he adds, because even some of the least expensive sunglasses can offer good protection.

Polarized glasses are good for cutting down on glare, but that does not necessarily mean they block out most UV light, nor does the darkness of the lenses in the eye wear mean much about UV blockage.

Finally, recent research shows that UV radiation not only suppresses the immune response of cells in the skin which contributes to the growth of skin cancers but may also induce generalized immune suppression and have an important impact on how people fight off infectious diseases, reports Margaret Kripke, Ph.D., chairman of the department of immunology, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

Some experts argue that the shorter, more energetic UVB rays, even though they are responsible for producing melanin and for thickening the skin's outer layer as protection against sun damage are more harmful because they damage cell DNA. If the breaks in the DNA are not repaired correctly, the next generation of cells will have abnormal DNA that may reproduce cancer cells. Or they may just be cells that die," says Bergstresser.

Others, like Rigel, indict UVA, saying that it penetrates more deeply than UVB and it damages the dermis, the inner layer of skin that contains the blood vessels, hair follicles, and nerve endings and ultimately this is responsible for skin aging. Further, adds Janusz Beer, Ph.D., D. Sc., of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, In our laboratory, UVA is our prime interest. ... If we take a cell culture and expose it to UVA radiation, we can see that these cells disintegrate. That may be happening when we are exposed while tanning and it may be happening in the bloodstream. ... If what we see happening in our experiments happens in tissue, then you can certainly change much in the blood by disrupting white and red blood cells.

Tanning Devices

In the end, all experts agree that all sunlight whether on the mountains or at the shore, on the equator or up north, at midday or midafternoon, in winter or summer has the potential to damage human skin. And that includes artificial sunlight beamed out of the popular tanning devices that people often use year round in the mistaken belief that these devices tan safely. Manufacturers claim that newer models are safe because they emit only UVA radiation. But UVA itself can be damaging, and many of the UVA devices do emit UVB, "and it doesn't take much to cause damage," says Bergstresser.

According to a British study, says Morison, about 50 percent of those who go to a tanning salon to use a device have a skin type that really can't tan. They go because there's something magic about it, about selling tans," he says. Others, says Sober, use tanning devices for an indoor 'base' tan before taking a winter tropics holiday. Their intent is to protect themselves from future sunburns. But, he says, they are in for a surprise. A UVA tan does not protect well since it is distributed differently and scattered elsewhere throughout the skin, he says.

Many experts would cheerfully ban tanning salons, but, as Beer notes, that's impractical. You can't ban beaches," he says. What FDA is doing is making sure the use of the equipment is as safe as possible by developing and enforcing regulations. FDA regulations on sunlamps, initiated in 1979 and amended in 1985, require, among other things, that sunlamps bear warning labels that say 'Danger Ultraviolet radiation' and advise users to avoid overexposure and to wear protective eye wear.

Sunscreens

While some people are heeding the messages about safe sun exposure, most experts acknowledge that many others pay no attention at all. Further, they realize that few people can totally avoid sun exposure. As a universal precaution, then, people should learn to wear a sunscreen regularly, particularly if they plan to spend any length of time in the sun. You can be certain about it," says DeLeo. If used correctly, sun blocks will reduce the likelihood and intensity of sunburn by blocking the UVB rays that create burns.

Consumers can expect to get the kind of protection the labeling specifies," says William Gilbertson, Pharm.D., director of FDA's division of OTC drug evaluation. Generic sun blocks are just as safe as brand names, he continues, but urges consumers to be aware of product differences. Sunscreens are formulated differently so they may affect people's skin differently, he says. He also suggests that people buy a small container of sunscreen to start out that way, they can determine whether the product feels good or irritates the skin.

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.