Latest news with #UVradiation
Globe and Mail
23-07-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Morning Update: Sunscreen skepticism goes viral
Good morning. The TikTok generation is trading sunblock for sunburns, using apps to optimize their summer glow — more on that below, along with the one-year anniversary of Jasper's wildfire and Ozzy Osbourne's musical legacy. But first: The kids are tanning again. They're frying themselves to a Paris Hilton Y2K crisp. They're speeding along the entire process with gels that are basically Vaseline and lotions that are literally beer. (The Cleveland Clinic actually stepped in to warn about the perils of 'beer tanning.') They're using apps with names like Rayz and Beam to track peak UV hours, so they can hustle outside and sharpen their tan lines by laying in the sun. Then they're showing off their handiwork on social media, where the hashtag 'tanlines' has appeared in more than 236 million TikTok posts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 70 per cent of Gen Z report actively tanning. Half of them say they returned with a burn, a number that ticks up to 57 per cent in Canada. And while the pursuit of a sun-baked complexion is at least a century old – back when Josephine Baker launched her own tanning oil and Coco Chanel said 'a golden tan is the index of chic' – this generation appears to be worryingly unaware of the risks. Maybe the beer tanning tipped you off: 28 per cent of 18- to 26-year-olds say they don't believe suntans cause skin cancer. And 68 per cent admit they often forgo sunscreen. Real quick: Scientists estimate that exposure to UV radiation is associated with 80 to 90 per cent of all skin cancers. That includes melanoma, which is its most fatal form. Sunscreen isn't a silver bullet – flat-out sun avoidance and sun-protective clothing are the best ways to keep your skin safe. Still, study after study after study have shown that regular sunscreen use reduces your risk of developing skin cancer. But that message doesn't tend to accompany those #tanlines Tiktoks. Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta, told The Globe that what's playing out on social media instead is nothing short of an 'anti-sunscreen movement.' He chalks that up to the power of online influencers such as American podcaster Joe Rogan, who has floated the idea that sunscreen can damage the brain. (It can't.) Wellness bro Andrew Huberman said on his show that the chemicals in sunscreen may be endocrine disruptors. (They're not.) Trad-couple influencers Nara and Lucky Blue Smith whipped up their own sunscreen from coconut oil and shea butter. The process – which you really should not try at home – has been viewed on TikTok nearly 22 million times. To the most bullish sunscreen truthers, the sun is all-natural and SPF is synthetic, peddled by Big Pharma to keep you sick. It's an easy theory that fits tidily into the whole Make America Healthy Again movement, where measles are treated with cod liver oil, not vaccines, and milk is best when it's raw, not pasteurized, and bone marrow is a daily menu staple. Sometimes, MAHA worlds collide: A brand called Primally Pure is now hawking a sunscreen alternative made from beef tallow. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – who sports a serious bronze himself – posted last year that the war on sunshine (and anything else that 'can't be patented by Pharma') was about to end. It's all having an impact on young adults. The Orlando Health Cancer Institute found that 14 per cent of them felt it was more harmful to wear sunscreen every day than to go without. Nearly 30 per cent of Gen Z said getting a tan was more important than preventing skin cancer anyway. In his inaugural address last January, U.S. President Donald Trump – another tanning enthusiast – promised to usher in a new golden age. This might not exactly be the hue he was aiming for, but it's looking increasingly like the one he'll get. One year ago, a 50-metre-high wildfire overtook Jasper, displacing the entire town and destroying at least a third of its buildings. Read more here about the long road to recovery – and how residents are working to rebuild their community. At home: A cybersecurity breach at the $4-billion hedge fund manager Waratah, which handles money for wealthy Canadians, may have exposed names, social insurance numbers and account sizes. Abroad: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early for the summer to avoid a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Music: Just weeks after playing the final Black Sabbath concert, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. Sports: Canadian soccer phenom Olivia Smith is the first female player to fetch a £1-million transfer fee after signing with Arsenal of England's Women's Super League. Pop: It was a banner second quarter for Coca-Cola, which beat profit estimates and is about to put cane sugar back in its drinks.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
15 Expert-Backed Tips to Soothe Sunburn and Reduce Redness Fast
Sunburn happens when your skin absorbs more UV radiation than it can handle, leading to inflammation and DNA damage. 'Think of it like your skin's version of a smoke alarm going off. Your body floods the area with blood to repair the damage, which causes the redness, pain, and swelling,' says Mona A. Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. 'You can't get rid of sunburn overnight because sunburn is a biological injury. The inflammation, DNA repair, and healing take time. Thinner, more exposed skin—like your face, lips, ears, eyelids, chest, shoulders, and shins—burn faster, while healing tends to be slower on areas with high friction, like shoulders under straps, or less blood flow, such as the lower legs.' Even if symptoms improve with treatment, your skin still needs several days to recover at the cellular level. 'Most sunburn reaches its peak about six to 24 hours after sun exposure, and can last anywhere from one to seven days depending on the severity of sunburn,' says Gabriella Vasile, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Addressing issues quickly will hasten your skin's recovery. Ahead, you'll find 15 ways to care for a sunburn so you can get on with your life. 1. Reach for a Cool Compress A compress will absorb some of the heat from your skin, constrict blood vessels, and reduce swelling and inflammation. Dr. Gohara suggests using a damp, chilled cloth soaked in ice water—not direct ice—to avoid cold burns. 'A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel works too. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day,' she notes. 'Never apply a compress or ice directly to damaged skin," Dr. Vasile adds. "Always use a cloth as a protective barrier to avoid burning yourself further." 2. Take an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever 'Ibuprofen is ideal—it fights both pain and inflammation,' says Dr. Gohara. 'Follow label dosing, usually 200 to 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed.' 3. Apply Hydrocortisone A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help reduce redness, itching, and inflammation. 'Spread a thin layer to the burned area one to two times daily for a few days. Don't overdo it and avoid broken skin or blistered areas,' says Dr. Gohara. 'I often recommend my patients apply a thin layer of topical steroid cream to superficial sunburns,' Dr. Vasile says. 4. Apply Tea or Yogurt Research indicates that tannic acid in green and black tea may help pull heat from a sunburn, while tea's catechins (flavonoids known for their antioxidant properties) can help repair skin damage. 'Tea is an anti-inflammatory and can reduce redness and swelling," Dr. Vasile says. "It is also packed with antioxidants which can protect the skin and promote wound healing." 'Brew several tea bags in hot water, let cool completely, then soak a cloth and apply it to the sunburned area. You can chill the tea in the fridge first for added relief." 'Cold yogurt is my go-to food,' says Dr. Gohara. 'Proteins in the yogurt help to promote wound healing.' 5. Squeeze on Aloe 'Aloe is nature's after-sun salve,' Dr. Gohara notes. 'If using the plant, cut a leaf, scoop out the gel, and apply a thin layer to the skin. For bottled versions, look for alcohol-free gels with a short ingredient list. Coola's Radical Recovery Moisturizing Lotion is a great option—it combines soothing aloe with skin-calming botanicals.' 'For extra cooling, store it in the fridge,' Dr. Vasile says. 6. Slather on Moisturizer A light lotion or gel is best for sunburned skin. Opt for a fragrance-free, soothing lotion or gel with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. 'Chilled in the fridge, a barrier-repair cream with glycerin can offer relief,' says Dr. Gohara, who suggests skipping thick ointments that may trap heat or clog pores. Peeling is dead skin, the cells that were casualties of the intense UV light. Avoid picking, which can delay healing and cause scarring. When peeling starts, 'Hydrate like it's your job," Dr. Gohara says. "Use a gentle moisturizer or aloe-based lotion multiple times a day." 7. Don't Peel Skin or Pop Blisters Peeling and flaking is often part of the repair process. It's dead skin cells that were casualties of the intense UV light, and usually begins a few days after the burn. 'Don't peel or pop anything,' warns Dr. Gohara. 'Let the skin shed naturally." Instead, 'hydrate like it's your job," Dr. Gohara says. "Use a gentle moisturizer or aloe-based lotion multiple times a day." "If a blister pops on its own, gently clean it with a non-soap cleanser and water," adds Dr. Gohara, "and apply a sterile, no-stick dressing or bandage.' 8. Avoid Hot Showers and Baths Hot showers can exacerbate sunburn symptoms. 'Hot water dilates blood vessels and can worsen inflammation and discomfort,' Dr. Gohara says. 'Stick to cool or lukewarm showers and gently pat your skin dry.' 9. Soak in Oatmeal Colloidal oatmeal is anti-inflammatory and soothing, and research shows it can help tamp down inflammation and reduce itching. 'Grind plain oats into a fine powder and dissolve them in a cool bath," suggests Dr. Gohara. "Soak for 15 to 20 minutes without rubbing or toweling harshly afterward." 10. Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing Wear flowy, breathable fabrics like cotton to prevent friction and allow the skin to breathe. 'You can also sleep in a cool room to minimize sweating and irritation,' Dr. Gohara says. 11. Elevate Your Legs Elevation helps reduce swelling by improving circulation and lymphatic drainage. 'This can be beneficial if the sunburn is on your lower extremities, as it promotes fluid and blood going back to your heart,' says Dr. Vasile. 12. Avoid Harsh Soaps 'Abrasive cleansers can strip your skin's protective barrier and worsen irritation,' says Dr. Gohara. 'Use a non-soap, pH-neutral cleanser, and don't rub the skin dry. Gently pat the affected area with a soft towel," Dr. Vasile adds, 'I would stick with a gentle, fragrance-free soap or body wash. Avoid harsh rubbing or any type of exfoliation.' 13. Drink Lots of Fluids Sunburn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking fluids and staying hydrated are important to prevent dehydration. 'Think water, herbal tea, or electrolyte-rich fluids,' notes Dr. Gohara. 'Or even hydrating fruits such as watermelon and cucumber.' 'You often get inflammation and swelling in the skin layers after a sunburn," Dr. Vasile says, "so drinking water, electrolyte drinks, or even eating fruit can be helpful to combat this." 14. Seek Medical Attention If you have fever, chills, confusion, fainting, severe pain, extensive blistering, or signs of infection—like pus—seek care. 'These could indicate sun poisoning or dehydration and require medical intervention,' says Dr. Gohara. 15. Protect Your Skin Exposing your skin to more sun while it's already burnt will lead to further cell damage in the skin and slower healing. 'If you do get a burn, it is important to practice sun avoidance at all costs,' says Dr. Vasile. Every time you get a sunburn, you're accumulating DNA damage. Your skin cells become less functional, and their ability to repair themselves diminishes. Sometimes, one of these dysfunctional cells multiplies and produces other dysfunctional counterparts, which can lead to skin cancer. 'Prevention is always the best approach,' Dr. Gohara says. 'One blistering sunburn or five regular sunburns can double your risk of skin cancer. Unprotected sun exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer, and skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, more common than lung, colon, prostate, and breast cancers combined.' Find a broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, that you love and reapply it every two hours. (At InStyle, our fave sunscreens include Isdin's Eryfotona Actinica Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen and Clearstem' You Are Sunshine SPF 50+ Sunscreen.) Don't forget the ears, tops of feet, and scalp. Wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses, and seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 'Reapplication is just as important as the first swipe of SPF,' Dr. Gohara says. Read the original article on InStyle
Vogue
14-07-2025
- Science
- Vogue
The Next Humans to Land on the Moon Will Wear This Oakley Space Visor
Become a Vogue Business Member to receive unlimited access to Member-only reporting and insights, our Beauty and TikTok Trend Trackers, Member-only newsletters and exclusive event invitations. This article first appeared on Vogue Business. If you were lucky enough to land on the moon, you'd be pretty keen to catch sight of your surroundings. But the UV radiation and lunar dust on the moon's surface make this much easier said than done. Sports performance eyewear brand Oakley has been tasked with the solution. 'When we've been on orbital missions, which is all humans have done since 1972, we've been trained to put our visors down before the sun goes up, and raise them when it goes down,' Michael Lopez-Alegria, Axiom's Chief Astronaut, tells Vogue Business in an interview. 'That happens every 45 minutes when you're going around the Earth, and if you forget to put the visor down at sun-up, you'll be quickly reminded: the sun is absolutely blazing in space, it is the widest, brightest light you can imagine.' Protecting astronauts like Lopez-Alegria from the moon's visually complex and hostile conditions requires intricate optical design, and Oakley has been chosen to design the eye protection for the next humans to land on the moon. In 2027, when astronauts take off for the Artemis III mission — the first human lunar landing since Apollo 17 back in 1972 — they'll wear a space visor co-designed by Oakley and its official partner, Axiom Space. "The sun is absolutely blazing in space, it is the widest brightest light you can imagine." Michael Lopez-Alegria, Chief Astronaut at Axiom. 'If you think of when you're in bright sunlight, everything that is in shadow seems even darker, because your eyes are adjusting to the brightness,' Lopez-Alegria says. 'Oakley's specialism is making sunglasses that can maintain visual acuity even in bright sunlight, so they were the ideal partner to design the performance coating of the space visor to help us with these transitions.' Artemis III's crew will be looking more fashion-forward than ever when they set off for the moon, because this visor will also be paired with a spacesuit that Prada has co-designed with Axiom. 'We're really in a new kind of commercial era for space.' Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Axiom's Program Management and Engineering. 'The aesthetics of the suit is not something that's often been thought about very much in the past, and certainly a lot of the engineering design starts first and foremost with the technical,' Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Axiom's Program Management and Engineering, tells Vogue Business. 'But we chose to take a perspective that it doesn't have to be or, it can be an and — we can have a suit that is safe and high performing and optimised for the requirements of the mission, and, at the same time, be aesthetically pleasing. 'We hope it's inspiring to the next generation of space explorers, because we're really in a new kind of commercial era for space,' Ralston adds.
Sky News
28-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Sunburn isn't just red skin - here's what's happening underneath the burn
The government is warning that the NHS will be under even more pressure this weekend as temperatures soar, so looking after yourself in the sunshine is crucial. But how much do you know about the science behind sunburn… and how to prevent it? What is sunburn? While we all know what sunburned skin looks like - red and sore - it might not be so clear what is happening underneath the skin. "Essentially, it's inflammation," said Dr Rachel Abbott, a consultant dermatologist who specialises in skin cancer for the Cardiff and Vale University health board. Ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic and when it is allowed to penetrate the skin, it triggers an inflammatory reaction, said Dr Abbott. Histamines - chemicals produced by the body's immune system - and prostaglandins - compounds that help the body deal with injuries and illness - are released as your body begins reacting to the damage. 0:54 Although the inflamed, red, itchy skin will fade, those carcinogens will do permanent damage to your DNA, according to Dr Abbott. "The redness and pain can be managed symptomatically, but that DNA damage is permanent," she said. "We've all got DNA repair mechanisms in our bodies. But this is why we're seeing such a massive increase in skin cancer, because [as we get older], the battle between the DNA damage and the skin cells becomes more than the immune system can cope with." Since the early 1990s, the number of skin cancer cases in Britain has more than doubled and last year, the number of cases was predicted to hit an all-time high of 20,800, according to Cancer Research UK. The cancer charity partially attributed the rise in cases to older groups of people knowing "less about the dangers of tanning in their youth", who "may have taken advantage of the cheap package holiday boom from the 1960s". This would lead to increased sun exposure and more damaged DNA, increasing the risk of skin cancer further down the line. The 'most effective' protection (and it isn't suncream) There is currently no conclusive treatment to deal with the DNA damage caused by sunburn - although Dr Abbott said there is "exciting" work being done in that area. Instead, the way to stop yourself from sustaining long-term damage is to protect yourself from UV rays. "A lot of people associate temperature with the heat of the sun, whereas actually it's the UV index that's the critical thing. And that usually peaks around midday," said Dr Abbott. 1:19 Contrary to what some may think (or hope), suncream should be a last resort. Shade "is the most effective thing", she said, but if you have to be out in the sunshine, "obviously we recommend hats, clothing and then sunscreen". "It is a last resort for those areas that you can't cover up with clothing and hats, and sunglasses." The cancer care charity Macmillan recommends a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50, or at least 30, and to reapply it regularly. "There is no such thing as a safe suntan," advises the charity. It also recommends using around six to eight teaspoons of suncream for an adult - one teaspoon for each limb, one for your chest, one for your back and one for your head and neck.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
There's A Serious Reason Why You Should Be Extra Careful If You Have The Window Seat On A Plane, And I Truly Never Would've Guessed This
Earlier this year, TikTok user FindingFiona uploaded a travel video that got serious attention, garnering more than 2 million views and 1,000 comments. In the post, she emphasized the importance of wearing sunscreen on flights, citing reports of people incurring more sun damage when they're at higher altitudes. 'Even though you're inside the aircraft, because of the high altitudes, you're actually experiencing stronger UV radiation, especially if you're in the window seat,' she says in the video. According to dermatologists, the TikToker's claim is partially correct — but it's also a little wrong. 'The good news is that the true risk from one flight, or somebody who flies occasionally, is probably low,' said Dr. Elizabeth Jones, an assistant professor of dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. But Jones noted that for flight crew members and pilots, the risk is higher. 'People who are flying occupationally, they're going to be exposed much more to ultraviolet light given — especially if they're in the cockpit — the size of the windshield,' and given all the time they spend at a higher altitude, she said. Jones pointed to a 2015 study that found pilots and cabin crew have roughly twice the incidence of melanoma, a less common but more serious form of skin cancer, when compared to the general population. So, there is a connection between flying and sun damage. Below, dermatologists explain what you should know about your sun damage risk when you're at cruising altitude. Airplane windows block out most UVB rays, but not all UVA rays. 'Airplane windows effectively block out most of the UVB rays,' Jones said, referring to the rays that can cause sunburn and skin cancer. So even if you're sitting in the window seat, you likely won't end up with sunburn after a flight. But that doesn't mean other damage can't occur. This is also true for non-airplane windows, said Dr. Jennifer Holman, a dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Tyler in Texas. 'Most typical windows in a house or a car are going to filter out ... like 97%, 98% of the UVB radiation, which is typically the wavelength that people think of that causes sunburns,' she said. While windows block these rays, they don't block all rays. According to Jones, airplane windows don't fully keep out UVA rays, which can 'cause premature aging, wrinkles and ultimately can contribute to skin cancer as well.' (Jones did note, however, that 'some of the older windows block out about 50% of UVA rays' and 'some of the newer models are more effective at even blocking out UVA.') Again, this goes beyond airplanes: Holman said most glass windows, including your car windows and the windows at your local coffee shop, also don't offer UVA protection. In general, 'most glass does not filter out UVA,' she noted. Wearing sunscreen on a plane can protect you from these harmful rays, which Holman said penetrate 'more deeply into the skin' and put you 'at risk for different types of skin cancer, including the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma.' So, who needs sunscreen on an airplane? The short answer: everyone. Sunscreen is important for folks to wear daily, whether or not you're taking a flight. 'As a dermatologist, of course, I'm encouraging all of my patients to wear their sunscreen as a daily habit every day, just for the exposures that we face and the free radicals that are out in the world from UV radiation,' Holman said. While it is important for everyone to wear sunscreen on a plane, Jones said certain people should take particular caution. 'Who should consider wearing sunscreen on a plane?' she said. 'Certainly, someone with a personal or family history of skin cancer may want to get that added protection by using a sunscreen.' Folks with fair skin who are more sensitive to the sun should consider that added protection, too. The same goes for people with medical conditions that make them susceptible to sun damage, and people who are on medication that increases sun sensitivity, Jones noted. Holman said that when shopping for sunscreen, you should find one that's labeled 'broad-spectrum,' meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. This is always necessary, including on a plane when you aren't protected from that UVA light. Beyond sunscreen, Holman stressed that other protections are also helpful. 'The importance of physical protection, too ― wearing hats, sun protective clothing, sunglasses ― all those things continue to be important as we're protecting ourselves from ultraviolet exposure,' she said. This article originally appeared in HuffPost.
