is the sun good for covering scars?

[shihui]

ive read abt uv rays being able to cover the scars, but there are also some articles that say they'll cause the scars to look even darker. so is getting a tan good or not?

[louisio]

It depends on the type and size of the scar really.
Some scars are just brown or red marks that are noticable because of the hyperpigmentation rather than because of texture or size. These scars tend to get less noticable with a tan.

Scars that are white or raised dont disappear when you get a tan although they CAN get a bit less noticable. But the sun cannot dispel all the collagen that makes them up so, whilst the colour might change, the texture diefinitely wont.

Remember to always use sunscreen, (especially on scars!!!), because the sun's rays are ultimately damaging and whilst a tan will act as a camouflage, your skin will only continue to heal if it is protected.

I wish i had the chance to get a tan to cover scars - havent seen the sun for weeks here in Birmingham - jst rain rain rain! Enjoy your sun bathing!

Lou xxxxxx

[shihui]

thanks louiso
i tried tanning yesterday. when i got home, my face looked even worse than before. the scars seemed more obvious. however later on in the day, the scars tamed down. im not sure if they have become less obvious than before i had gone tanning or not. i hope that the tan has indeed helped to camouflage my scars a little and not make them more obvious. . like that, the scars would be gradually be less obvious in time to come, i hope. pray that the sun would be out soon over there

[louisio]

Dont give up yet!
Any method takes a little while to start showing results, so although you arent sure whether your scars have been helped by tanning, give it a few attempts before you write it off!
BUt i still cant stress enough how damaging the sun is, so do it safely!

And thanks for wishing me sun....but unfortunately we've got snow forecast for tonight! typical!

Lou xxxx

[Carol]

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[Carol]

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[amylou]

I am going to start tanning before my wedding hope it helps

[lauryn]

no no no no do not tan it makes scars worse!!!!!!!!!!!

[lauryn]

While it's always important to protect your skin from the sun's rays, it's especially important to cover up scars.

That's because sun damage to healing skin can last much longer than that weekend suntan.

A number of factors go into how visible a scar will be once the skin's healing process ends. Factors such as genetics and the nature of the wound cannot be controlled, but another factor -- care of the scar -- can, and one of the most important ways to care for a scar is to protect it from the sun.

Scars are particularly sensitive to sunlight and can sunburn faster than healthy skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Once a scar becomes sunburned, it can remain discolored or darkened and may not fade back to match the color of your healthy skin.

For that reason, if you've got a fresh scar, doctors advise avoiding exposing the wound to the sun altogether. Try wearing protective clothing such as shirts with long sleeves, long pants or large-brimmed hats.

If clothing doesn't cover the scar, make sure to use a sunscreen. Sun blocks that use zinc and titanium are recommended, but any sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater should be acceptable if applied frequently.

In addition to avoiding the sun, you can also take a proactive role in helping your scar heal by rubbing or massaging the wound for about five to 10 minutes twice daily. And if the wound required stitches, avoid rigorous activity such as contact sports or rough activities for about two weeks.

More information

The National Institutes of Health offers more useful information on caring for scar tissue and healing (www.nlm.nih.gov ).

[lauryn]

Take extra care to protect babies and children from the sun. Studies show that one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or teenager could increase the risk for melanoma, an often fatal form of skin cancer.

You need to be especially careful to play it safe in the sun if you:

have fair skin; blond, red, or light brown hair; and blue green, or gray eyes
have freckles and burn before tanning
spend a lot of time outdoors
were previously treated for skin cancer
have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma
work indoors all week and then try to catch up on your tan on weekends
live or vacation at high altitudes (ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases 4 to 5 percent for every 1,000 feet above sea level)
live or vacation close to the equator
have certain diseases, such as lupus erythematosus
take certain medicines, including:
acne medicines
antibiotics, such as tetracyclines
antihistamines
oral contraceptives containing estrogen
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen sodium
phenothiazines (major tranquilizers and anti-nausea drugs)
sulfa drugs
tricyclic antidepressants
thiazide diuretics
sulfonylureas, such as oral anti-diabetics.
Ask your doctor about the risk of any medicines you may be taking that could be harmful to you when you are in the sun.

[lauryn]

Skin damage from sunlight builds up with continued exposure, whether sunburn occurs or not. In addition to skin cancer and sunburn, other effects can include wrinkling, premature aging, and in time, an almost leathery appearance of the skin. Research also suggests that excessive exposure to UV radiation may interfere with the body's immune system.

Sunburn is associated with the shorter ultraviolet wavelengths, known as ultraviolet B (UVB). The longer wavelengths, known as ultraviolet A (UVA), however, can penetrate the skin and damage connective tissue at deeper levels, even if the skin's surface feels cool. It is important to limit exposure to both UVA and UVB.

Sunscreens play an important role in a total program to reduce the harmful effects of the sun, along with limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing. FDA regulates sunscreens as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Cosmetic products that are marketed with sun-protection claims are regulated as both drugs and cosmetics.

To help consumers select products that best suit their needs, sunscreens are labeled with SPF numbers. SPF stands for "Sun Protection Factor." The higher the SPF number, the more sunburn protection the product provides. Remember, sunscreen use alone will not prevent all of the possible harmful effects of the sun.

The effectiveness of a sunscreen is reduced if it is not applied in adequate amounts or it is washed off, rubbed off, sweated off, or otherwise removed. For maximum effectiveness, apply a sunscreen liberally and reapply it frequently.

FDA is concerned about the health hazards associated with suntanning products that do not contain sunscreen ingredients. Beginning May 22, 2000, such suntanning products must bear the following warning statement:


"Warning–This product does not contain a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn. Repeated exposure of unprotected skin while tanning may increase the risk of skin aging, skin cancer, and other harmful effects to the skin even if you do not burn." (Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 740.19)

When at the beach or pool, cover exposed areas with tightly woven clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and face. If you're a parent, protect your children's skin; research indicates that one or more severe, blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of skin cancer later in life.

Remember that the sun's rays are the strongest from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, especially during the late spring and summer. Reflected glare from water and snow also can increase your exposure to UV radiation.

[lauryn]

"Tan indoors with absolutely no harmful side effects"

"No burning, no drying, and no sun damage"

"Unlike the sun, indoor tanning will not cause skin cancer or skin aging"

Beware of claims like these. Ads that claim indoor tanning devices are a safe alternative to outdoor tanning may be false.

Tanning indoors damages your skin. That’s because indoor tanning devices emit ultraviolet rays. Tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burn from ultraviolet rays. Overexposure to these rays can cause eye injury, premature wrinkling of the skin, and light-induced skin rashes, and can increase your chances of developing skin cancer.

Tanning Devices
The most popular device used in tanning salons is a clamshell-like tanning bed. The customer lies down on a Plexiglas surface as lights from above and below reach the body.

Many older tanning devices used light sources that emitted shortwave ultraviolet rays (UVB) that actually caused burning. Aware of the harmful effects of UVB radiation, salon owners began using tanning beds that emit mostly longwave (UVA) light sources. Some salons claim this is safe. While UVA rays are less likely to cause burning than UVB rays, they are suspected to have links to malignant melanoma and immune system damage.

Advertising Claims
Here are some claims commonly made about indoor tanning — and the facts.

"You can achieve a deep year-round tan with gentle, comfortable, and safe UVA light."

Ultraviolet light is divided into two wavelength bands. Shortwave ultraviolet rays called UVB can burn the outer layer of skin. Longwave ultraviolet rays called UVA penetrate more deeply and can weaken the skin’s inner connective tissue.

Long-term exposure to the sun and to artificial sources of ultraviolet light contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer. Two types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell, are treatable if detected early. Melanoma, another type of skin cancer, can be fatal.

"No harsh glare, so no goggles or eye shades are necessary."

Studies show that too much exposure to ultraviolet rays, including UVA rays, can damage the retina. Overexposure can burn the cornea, and repeated exposure over many years can change the structure of the lens so that it begins to cloud, forming a cataract. Left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness.

The Food and Drug Administration requires tanning salons to direct all customers to wear protective eye goggles. Closing your eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses, and using cotton wads do not protect the cornea from the intensity of UV radiation in tanning devices.

Long-term exposure to natural sunlight also can result in eye damage, but in the sun, people generally are more aware that their eyelids are burning. Under indoor UV lights, exposed skin remains cool to the touch. In addition, the intensity of lights used in tanning devices is much greater — and potentially more damaging to the eyes — than the intensity of UV rays in natural sunlight.

"Tan year round without the harmful side effects often associated with natural sunlight."

Exposure to tanning salon rays increases the damage caused by sunlight. This occurs because ultraviolet light actually thins the skin, making it less able to heal.

Unprotected exposure to utltraviolet rays also results in premature skin aging. A tan is damaged skin that is more likely to wrinkle and sag than skin that hasn’t been tanned. Over time, you may notice certain undesirable changes in the way your skin looks and heals. According to some skin specialists, skin that has a dry, wrinkled, leathery appearance early in middle age is a result of UV exposure that occurred in youth.

"No danger in exposure or burning."

Whether you tan indoors or out, studies show the combination of ultraviolet rays and some medicines, birth control pills, cosmetics, and soaps may accelerate skin burns or produce painful adverse skin reactions, such as rashes. In addition, tanning devices may induce common light-sensitive skin ailments like cold sores.

Protecting Yourself
1. Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device, ask whether the manufacturer or the salon staff recommend exposure limits for your skin type. Set a timer on the tanning device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of exposure is important relative to burning. Studies suggest that children and adolescents are harmed more by equivalent amounts of UVB rays than adults. The earlier you start tanning, the earlier skin injury may occur.

2. Use goggles to protect your eyes. Ask whether safety goggles are provided and if their use is mandatory. Make sure the goggles fit snugly. Check to see that the salon sterilizes the goggles after each use to prevent the spread of eye infections.

3. Consider your medical history. If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes or are susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these conditions can be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition, your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight if you use certain medications — for example, antihistamines, tranquilizers or birth control pills. Your tanning salon may keep a file with information on your medical history, medications, and treatments. Make sure you update it as necessary.

A Word About Sunscreens
Chances are you spend some time in natural sunlight. You still could benefit from using sunscreens with sun protection factor (SPF) numbers of 15 or more. The SPF number gives you some idea of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, you should be protected from burn for 150 minutes using SPF 15. Swimming and perspiration reduce the actual SPF value for many sunscreens, so be sure to reapply even if the product is water-resistant.

While all sunscreens provide some level of protection against UVB rays, no product screens out all UVA rays. Some may advertise UVA protection, but there’s no system yet for rating UVA protection. Even when you use a sunscreen with a high SPF number, there’s no way to know how much UVA protection you’re getting.

Regulation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) share responsibilities in the regulation of sunlamps and tanning devices. The FDA enforces regulations that deal with labels on the devices; the FTC investigates false, misleading, and deceptive advertising claims about the devices. When these agencies determine that device labels don’t comply with the regulations or that advertisements are not truthful, they may take corrective action. The FDA also can remove products from the marketplace.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

[shihui]

hi lauryn! thanks for the replies. i really appreciated all the research you've done. i've stopped going for sun-tan sessions ever since i read your reply on 17th feb. i'm afraid that my previous sessions have damaged my skin so bad that my scars will never heal. i've stopped going to sun-tan for abt a mth already. my tan has faded but not my scars. i feel that if i had not gone to sun-tan, my scars would have been gone by now. is there a chance for them to heal now? *crosses fingers*

[lauryn]

you're very welcome. i always think people don't read all the crap i post cuz i never get responses so im glad i helped you.
whats your skincare routine?
your scars will heal and fade they just need a little help

[lauryn]

and now the benefits

The Sun May Be Better for You Than You Think
Louise Danielle Palmer

It's hard not to smile when the sun comes out, and harder still to not want to warm yourself in it, bask in it, and, well, sometimes bake in it. Of course, we've been bombarded by messages about how sunning yourself is as good for you as smoking a cigarette — and skin cancers are on the rise. But an important shift in medical thinking is underway, which holds that soaking up some rays can actually be good for you. What is most natural may also be most healing.

This shift is prompted by recent research showing that the right amount of sun — and the vitamin D it produces — relaxes us, strengthens our muscles, improves our mood, helps us sleep, makes our babies grow, and balances our hormones. This work also shows that the sun, or lack of it caused by staying indoors or blocking it altogether with sunscreen, plays a role in causing or curing a range of maladies including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and especially cancer.

Recent findings in the field of oncology are most compelling. Last year, for example, a study based on almost five decades of data was published in the journal Cancer showing that rates of breast, colon, and prostate cancer are distributed geographically, with the highest concentrations in places with the lowest levels of sunlight. It came on the heels of earlier studies by Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., associate professor of cancer biology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Schwartz measured rates of exposure to ultraviolet light in every county in America. He found that prostate cancer mortality in a given county correlates with the amount of sunlight that falls. These findings echo previous findings that show correlations between sunlight and cancer rates in northern and southern latitudes elsewhere in the world. Finland, for example, where the sun rarely shines, has some of the highest cancer rates. "Sunlight has a protective effect," Schwartz says.

Sunlight supplies the body with most of the vitamin D it needs, which isn't really a vitamin but a steroid hormone called calcitriol. Scientists once thought the main function of vitamin D was to strengthen bones, and that only the kidney and the liver made and stored it. But in the last few years, scientists have discovered calcitriol receptors all over the body — in the breast, the prostate, the heart, and even the brain, says David Feldman, M.D., professor of medicine at Stanford University Medical School. Vitamin D can be absorbed through food or vitamins if you don't get enough sun, though Feldman says it's hard to get from a vitamin what the sun gives us. The recommended daily allowance might be 400 i.u., but the body produces up to 10,000 i.u. on a sunny day.

Last year, the American Journal of Medicine published a study showing that 30 percent of medical students were deficient in vitamin D by the end of winter, says Michael Hollick, a leading sun researcher at Boston University School of Medicine. The study followed a landmark survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that 41 percent of black women of childbearing age were deficient as well. Dark skin is of course a protection from harsh sun. Unfortunately, where the sun is less intense, deep pigments mean less vitamin D. Hollick says deficiency early in life may create an "imprint" on the body that could increase the risk for a variety of diseases later on.

Sunlight also appears to have curative powers. In the past two years, Donald L. Trump, M.D., chairman of medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute at the University of New York at Buffalo, and his colleague, Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D., discovered that cancer cells lose their ability to reproduce, invade, and spread when doused with vitamin D. The good cells live and the bad (cancerous) cells die. Tests have been done on breast, prostate, and colon cancer in animals so far, and Johnson and Trump are now trying to replicate the results in humans, as well as using high doses of vitamin D in combination with chemotherapy. "We know that you can kill cells at a much more significant rate if you treat them this way, but we still don't understand how this happens," says Johnson.

The sun heals in other ways, as well. A 1998 study published in the medical journal Lancet showed that people exposed to UVA and UVB rays in a tanning bed three times a week for nine months were cured of hypertension. Why? Light stimulates production of calcitriol, which cuts the production of a substance that causes blood vessels to constrict (hypertension). Vitamin D also is given to people with Type One diabetes because it has an anti-inflammatory effect, and to cardiovascular patients, to lower the risk of stroke.

The sun also affects our mood, our focus, and possibly our sex drive. Much has been written about seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which afflicts those in northern climates in the winter. Normally, visible light signals the pineal gland to shut down production of melatonin, the stuff that makes us want to sleep and hibernate. With insufficient visible light, people with SAD become depressed and lethargic because their bodies continue to produce melatonin during the day.

Other studies show that light therapy greatly reduces premenstrual syndrome as well, possibly because melatonin regulates hormones as well as sleep cycles. And although there is no hard evidence yet, researchers believe light may affect our hormonally-driven libidos as well.

All this new data causes some dermatologists to see red. They point out that the sun is a carcinogen and causes wrinkles. But Robert Stern, M.D., chief of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, believes there is a middle road. The key, he says, is to take in visible — rather than direct — sunlight. "Sun protection is more likely to be good for you than sun exposure. But I said sun protection, not sun avoidance. You don't want people to sit at home and eat potato chips. Staying at home makes you dumpy and sad. We're better off spending as much time out of doors as possible."