Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine Ma'ayenei Hayeshua
Hospital
Last week we discussed hair, but hair color is not only
related to the hair. It is also related to the skin. Red-
haired people and blondes tend to be fair skinned and when
exposed to strong sun, can burn easily. Redheads tend to
freckle, although all people who freckle must be extremely
careful. We'll soon see why.
Exposure to the sun stimulates our pigment producing glands,
and causes the skin to turn darker -- it is no secret why
people from Africa are dark-skinned. I still remember people
"working" on their tans, as if tanned skin represented a
healthier situation. For a dollar you could buy a reflector --
a mirror basically to concentrate the sun's rays on your
face. It is a great way to get a great tan and also to get a
dangerous cancer, lo aleinu.
A major push by the American Academy of Dermatologists has
increased our knowledge of the skin cancer called melanoma,
and made pushing for a tan a dangerous practice. Melanoma is
the only skin cancer that metastasizes, that is, it spreads
secretly through the bloodstream and then grows in distant
places. It is resistant to chemotherapy, so if it isn't
discovered quickly, it is lethal. It grows from pigment
cells, and can be hidden, for example, growing in the scalp
or in the eye.
A good practice is prevention. People who are light- skinned
are especially susceptible, and they should be checked often
by a dermatologist to make sure that a mole or a freckle does
not turn cancerous. If caught early, it is curable. They
should also avoid strong sun or use lotion. Bad "moles" are
dark ones or ones with black spots in them and those with
irregular borders. Since many of us are immigrants to Israel
from places that have a lot less sun, we should be
careful.
Sometimes, we are out in the sun too much for unavoidable
reasons and get a nasty sunburn. Often we only feel it later.
Obviously, prevention here is best, meaning lotion in all
exposed skin areas. Sunburn acts like all burns: it is
extremely painful and occasionally needs narcotics to control
pain in extensive burns. In children it can be dangerous. The
beach is an especially dangerous place for this, and even
those who use lotion are not careful to reapply it after they
have left the ocean.
Aloe vera -- which can cause an allergic reaction to those
who are susceptible -- nevertheless is soothing and helps.
Honey does as well.
As with all conditions it pays to be smart and be safe. Be
careful with the sun and keep in close contact with a skin
doctor if you have lots of moles or freckles. By the way the
sun is a chief source of Vitamin D in the body, so complete
avoidance of the sun isn't a good idea either. Write me in
care of the Yated.
A message from Glaxo, sponsor of this column. Skin
infections as a result of impetigo or minor wounds are dealt
with easily and effectively with Bactroban -- a cream that
has a special vehicle for better absorption than regular
antibiotic ointments. Think of it also for burns and acne --
it works for these too.
