tan

How Sunscreen Works [Show Notes]

 in Podcasts  tagged cancer / early detection / SPF / sun / sunblock / sunscreen / tan / UVA / UVB by

Two products to protect your skin from sun exposure

  • Sunscreen – filters the sunlight *like a screen on a window*; made up of organic compounds (like chemistry, not vegetables) that absorb UVA and/or UVB rays that reach your skin.  These are the products labeled with SPF numbers.
  • Sunblock – used to be opaque because it is supposed to completely block any sunlight from getting to your skin. *Think Screech from Saved By The Bell*.  Full of reflective particles to bounce the sunlight away from your body.  The particles have been micronized by technology so it is transparent to your eyes, but not to the UV light from the sun.

Lesson on Light

The light comes from the sun.  There’s visible light (ROYGBV) and that light bounces off of things and as it goes in your eyes, that’s how you can see things.  Along with the light we see, there is ultraviolet light (waves of light that are shorter and more energetic that the violet color light).  There are 3 types of UV light – 1 is absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere so it never makes it to us.  Then there is UVA and UVB.  UVA is more energetic and is most responsible for causing cell mutations that lead to cancer.  UVB is less energetic and is most responsible for causing your skin to tan.

A hand-drawn and colored sketch of the layers of the epidermis, with labeled parts. Sunscreen protects this layer.

UV rays travel through these layers of the skin and stimulate the living and dividing cells to divide more and create more melanin.  Reminder: melanin is your skin’s natural skin protectant because it will absorb UV rays in the higher layers to help prevent it from reaching the dividing cells.

SPF Math (Sun Protection Factor)

Step 1: find out how long you can be out in the sun without protection before your skin starts turning red or burning (example: 15 minutes)
Step 2: Multiply that “unprotected time” by the SPF number on the bottle (SPF 15) to get your “protected time” (15 x 15 = 225 minutes = 3 hr 45 min**)
**This is only if you don’t sweat and don’t get wet.  But it’s very hard to be in the sun and NOT sweat.  Plus your natural skin oils dilute it the longer it stays on the skin.

Protect Yo’self

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours no matter what.  They also recommend that you use SPF 15 (or higher) sunscreen. It should block UVA and UVB.  Use it every day, especially on your face, and use it all year round.  The daily UV exposure, if you’re unprotected, is what they suspect leads to a greater chance of skin cancer.

They also recommend UV-blocking sunglasses.

Clothes and hats are the best way to protect your skin from sun exposure.

Stay inside during peak hours (10 am – 4 pm) of radiation (less atmosphere to block and deflect sunlight).

Do a monthly, head-to-toe, skin scan to check for new or changing moles, freckles, and skin tags (or get a friend to help).  EARLY DETECTION!!

Have your doctor check your skin once a year.

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Music Credits:  “Radio Martini” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Skin 101 [Show Notes]

 in Podcasts  tagged collagen / complexion / elastin / epidermis / hydration / keratin / melanin / skin / stem cells / tan by

Skin 101

Your skin is the largest organ of your body.

It has 3 jobs: Protection, Regulation, Sensation

Natural complexions are being viewed as more beautiful than a “tan”.

3 Layers

  • Epidermis (above skin) – waterproof, gives you your color, the layer we see
  • Dermis-Epidermis junction – a protein layer containing collagen and elastin to give skin flexibility and stretchability
  • Dermis – where your glands, hair follicles, and nerves are
  • Hypodermis – (below skin) – houses adipose tissue for insulation, and blood vessels

A hand-drawn and colored sketch of the skin layers, with labeled parts.

The Epidermis is made up of several separate layers based on what is happening in the cell’s lifetime.

A hand-drawn and colored sketch of the layers of the epidermis, with labeled parts

The basement membrane sits right on top of the Dermis-Epidermis junction, made up of fibrous proteins to be a solid foundation.

Epidermis Layers

  • Basal Layer – Keratinocytes (makes Keratin) and Melanocytes (makes Melanin) – stem cells.
  • Spinous Layer – Cells are actively dividing and getting squished together
  • Granular Layer – Cells start making the proteins (keratin or melanin) that they are coded to make and it fills up all the intracellular space; the organelles of the cells get crowded out
  • Lucid Layer (Clear) – Keratinized cells are clear; Melanin-filled cells are colored. Cells are officially dead.  Cells become coated in a hydrophobic (afraid of water) oil.
  • Hard Layer  – cells are tightly packed together and dry; the layer we can touch.

These cells are being continuously produced and shed off and replenished because the skin takes a lot of abuse.

Deeper Stuff

UV light from sun or tanning beds (heaven forbid!) stimulates melanocytes to divide faster and create more melanin (because melanin is reflective and keeps UV rays away from the important cells).  This is how a tan is created.  But during times of huge exposure, like tanning beds, there’s not enough melanin to keep all the UV rays out so those rays can wreak havoc on the collagen and elastin proteins.  This is why over-tanned skin ages faster.

Hydrating makes sure that the living and dividing cells are plump and as healthy as possible so when they move to the next layer, they are well nourished.

Protection: keeps dirt and bacteria out; protections from UV radiation
Regulation: releases sweat to cool the body’s temp; subtly moves blood vessel closer or farther away from the surface to either cool the warm blood (like after exercise) or keep it warm (like in the winter).
Sensations: allows you to feel things that touch you or come close to you.

I can’t seem to find any free footage of the original episode (Season 1, Episode 3) without having to sign up for a free streaming service.  The Mythbusters did a “revisit” of their Goldfinger episode.  Netflix the original, if you can.

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Music Credits:  “Radio Martini” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/