Be cool and block the sun
Where would we be if the sun did not exist? The simple answer is we would not have existed. There would not have been the solar system, planet earth would have been shrouded in darkness and it would have been too cold to support any form of life.
Where would we be if the sun did not exist? The simple answer is we would not have existed. There would not have been the solar system, planet earth would have been shrouded in darkness and it would have been too cold to support any form of life. Plants would not have been able to photosyntesise their food.
Modest doses of sunlight are also essential for the body to build adequate stores of vitamin D in order to help build and sustain health bones. Sunshine helps to alleviate one's mood and a sunny climate could be effectively exploited to boost the tourist industry.
But all is not so bright as far as the sun is concerned. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause sunburn if one overstays in the sun, especially around springtime or early summer, when the skin might not have yet adapted to the sunny weather.
Long-term repeated sun exposure causes irreversible biological damage to the skin, giving rise to premature skin aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer. Fair-skinned individuals and children are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays.
The incidence of melanoma skin cancer has progressively risen at an alarming rate in most white-skinned populations in recent decades. This has given rise to worldwide public awareness campaigns to highlight the damaging effects of the sun, promote sun protection and encouraging early skin cancer detection. The latter is especially important in view of the fact that survival of melanoma victims is directly linked to catching the cancer in its early stages.
This year's EuroMelanoma campaign is especially directed at youths, not because melanoma is common in this age group but because substantial sun damage occurs at this age due to a care-free attitude, which translates into unpleasant consequences in later years. Combating the notion of invulnerability commonly perceived by most youngsters is a tall order indeed. A lot has to do with cool trends, fashion and culture.
Repetitive clever advertising and conditioning strategies, perhaps with the collaboration of popular role models as well as the fashion and glamour industry, could however go some way towards modifying trends and bringing about behavioural changes among youths. So why not start from now? Be cool this summer: Block the sun.
Dr Scerri is chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital and senior lecturer at the University of Malta.