When UV radiation suppresses immune responses, the body's ability to fight certain diseases, including skin cancer, is reduced. It is suspected that overexposure to UV radiation also interferes with the effectiveness of immunizations given through the skin.
Studies have shown that sunscreens can prevent UV-induced wrinkling. Animal studies demonstrated that sunscreens with adequate UVA coverage can prevent sagging and wrinkling due to high-intensity UVA. If you think you're at risk, make an appointment with one of our skin cancer experts at the Stanford Skin Cancer Program.
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
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New to MyHealth? Manage Your Care From Anywhere. Activate Account. Create a New Account. Forgot Username or Password? Ultraviolet radiation UV exposure categories Effects of UV exposure Genetics of skin cancer Other causes and risk factors for skin cancer.
The FDA has also proposed a new rule to ban the use of indoor tanning devices by anyone under age 18, to require tanning facilities to inform adult users about the health risks of indoor tanning, and to require a signed risk acknowledgment from all users. Some US states have already banned indoor tanning by all people younger than 18, while others have banned use by younger teens and children.
In addition to skin cancer , exposure to UV rays can cause other health problems:. Some people are more sensitive to the damaging effects of UV radiation. Some medications can also make you more sensitive to UV radiation, making you more likely to get sunburned.
And certain medical conditions can be made worse by UV radiation. Your skin makes vitamin D naturally when it is exposed to UV rays from the sun. How much vitamin D you make depends on many things, including how old you are, how dark your skin is, and how strong the sunlight is where you live. Vitamin D has many health benefits. It might even help lower the risk of some cancers. Dietary sources and vitamin supplements do not increase skin cancer risk, and are typically more reliable ways to get the amount you need.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC has also recommended ways for communities to help prevent skin cancer by reducing sun exposure, including educational interventions in schools and providing shade at schools, recreational sites, and work sites.
Many people believe the UV rays of tanning beds are harmless. This is not true. Research has shown that UV radiation increases the likelihood of certain cataracts. Although curable with modern eye surgery, cataracts diminish the eyesight of millions of Americans and cost billions of dollars in medical care each year.
Other kinds of eye damage include pterygium tissue growth that can block vision , skin cancer around the eyes, and degeneration of the macula the part of the retina where visual perception is most acute.
All of these problems can be lessened with proper eye protection. Look for sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, that offer 99 to percent UV protection. For example, the skin normally mounts a defense against foreign invaders such as cancers and infections. Ultraviolet UV radiation from the sun and from tanning beds is classified as a human carcinogen by the U.
I was first diagnosed with melanoma when I was 19 years old. I found a new black mole on my leg that was as small as the tip of a pencil but with jagged edges. I immediately called my doctor and was able to catch the cancer at Stage I. More than five surgeries later, the melanoma was gone. But seven years later, it was back. This time the melanoma showed up as a larger black mole, which grew to the size of a quarter over a weekend.
I called my doctor immediately and had two more surgeries to remove the melanoma. He worried that he would never walk his daughter down the aisle, but this summer he finally had the chance! After nearly 10 surgeries in total, I have been cancer-free now for 5 years. If you find a suspicious mole, call your doctor right away!
Skip to main content. Contact Us. Skin cancer melanoma and nonmelanoma Premature aging and other skin damage Cataracts and other eye damage Immune system suppression Skin Cancer Each year, more new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.
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