Dr. Larry Nichter’s Study Highlights Photoprotective Windows and Films for Reducing Skin Cancer Risk

A woman in an office exposed to UV light through the windows

People are exposed to ambient solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation throughout their daily routines, both intentionally and unintentionally. Cumulative and excessive exposure to UV radiation is the primary behavioral cause of skin cancers, skin damage, premature skin aging, and sun-related eye disorders. In the United States alone, more than one million new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed this year.

UV radiation can reach the skin from all directions, as it is diffusely scattered by various environmental and atmospheric conditions. Even when a person is situated under a covering, such as the roof of a car or house, they are not completely protected from the sun’s rays. As shade structures do not effectively protect against UV radiation, there have been significant advancements in the photoprotection of glass through the development of specially designed photoprotective windows and films.

Low-emittance (low-E) coatings, which are microscopically thin, virtually invisible metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on window or skylight glazing surfaces, reduce the U-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow and limiting UV radiation. The exclusive Thermaflect coating utilizes the most advanced, double-layer soft coat technology to deliver top performance for UV protection and prevent heat loss in homes. This product blocks 87% of UV radiation and has an Energy Star certification in all climate zones.

Tints and films have also been an essential advancement in glass photoprotection, particularly in automobiles. High-quality window film products are high-tech laminates of polyester and metallized coatings bonded by distortion-free adhesives. The International Window Film Association provides members with accreditation in solar control films, safety films, and automotive films to increase consumer awareness and demand for professionally installed film window products. The Skin Cancer Foundation has also played a leadership role in certifying window films that limit UV transmission, with the Panorama Designer and Safety Films currently recommended for UV photoprotection.

Given these innovative scientific and industrial advances in window and film photoprotective products, the study recommends their use in all residential, commercial, and school facilities to provide photoprotection and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

To learn about non-invasive and minimally invasive ways to reverse sun damage and rejuvenate your skin, please see our award-winning services, ranked the best in Orange County, California, at BioSpa and Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Nichter and his team are dedicated to helping patients achieve healthier, more youthful-looking skin through the latest advancements in skin care and plastic surgery techniques.

Citation:

  • Edlich RF, Winters KL, Cox MJ, Becker DG, Horowitz JH, Nichter LS, Britt LD, Long WB, Edlic EC. Use of UV-protective windows and window films to aid in the prevention of skin cancer. J Long Term Eff Med Implants. 2004;14(5):415-30. doi: 10.1615/jlongtermeffmedimplants.v14.i5.70. PMID: 15479155.

Unlikely Relationship Between Skin Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's DiseaseWho would have thought that there is a “silver lining” in having Skin Cancer? Skin cancer may be an indication that you are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease. This finding comes from a study published this month in Neurology®, which found that found that its subjects were 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease if they had non-melanoma skin cancer.

The study followed 1,102 subjects over the age of 70 who did not have any form of dementia when it began. Over the course of the study, in which subjects participated for an average of 3.7 years, some of them developed dementia and some developed skin cancer (and some reported having had skin cancer before the study began). Of the 141 patients who had skin cancer, only two also developed Alzheimer’s Disease.

Crucially, this negative correlation was found specifically between non-melanoma skin cancers (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) and Alzheimer’s Disease (and not other types of dementia).

The reason for this inverse relationship is not yet known, but the study’s authors speculate that it may be the result of a confluence of genetics and lifestyle choices. For example, people who get more exercise are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease, as shown by previous studies. People who exercise are also likely to accumulate more exposure to ultraviolet light, which is a primary risk factor for skin cancer. So an active lifestyle may be a linking factor in the relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease and skin cancer, but it cannot be the whole story. The problem with this hypothesis is that exercise also protects against vascular dementia, another form of brain degeneration, yet a similar relationship between skin cancer and vascular dementia has not been found.

Another possible explanation comes from genetics. Our individual genetics may give our cells a tendency to either divide and multiply—as happens out of control in cancer—or to die off as occurs with brain tissue in Alzheimer’s patients. This hypothesis is interesting because both brain and skin cells are derived from the same type of stem cells.

The genetic explanation is particularly interesting because it would offer predictability about one’s risk factors for skin cancer or Alzheimer’s Disease. Furthermore, a biological explanation for why these diseases seem to exclude each other could possibly lead to preventative measures for either of these serious illnesses.

Of course, there is the possibility that a factor only indirectly related to either skin cancer or Alzheimer’s Disease is causing an apparent correlation. Even if a biological factor were discovered, it may not have any applications as a medical treatment. More research is needed to find out. See the below reference and link to find out more.

  • American Academy of Neurology (AAN). “Skin cancer may be linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” ScienceDaily, 15 May 2013. Web. 23 May 2013.

Updated guidelines for avoiding skin cancer

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling to children and young adults (ages 10-24) with fair skin on the effects and dangers of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

Dr. Nichter of the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery would like to make blog readers aware of this new recommendation, which is an update to USPSTF’s 2003 guidelines for physicians on counseling skin cancer patients.

Since 2003, the USPSTF has found evidence that counseling for children and young adults on the risks of UV light exposure is beneficial.

From the USPSTF:

Convincing evidence relates UV radiation exposure during childhood and youth to a moderately increased risk of skin cancer later in life; for adults, adequate evidence links UV radiation exposure to a small increase in the subsequent risk of skin cancer […] Individuals with a fair skin type are at greatly increased risk of skin malignancy.

Counseling encourages people to engage in behaviors that mitigate their UV exposure such as wearing effective sunscreen, reducing midday outdoor activities, wearing hats or UV-protective clothing, and avoiding the use of tanning beds.

Dr. Larry Nichter would like readers and patients to note that although questions remain as to the direct relationship between sun exposure to an increased skin cancer risk, the risk of premature skin aging (laxity, wrinkles, and an eventual leathery appearance) seems to be directly related to cumulative sun exposure without protection for all ages.

Prospective patients who are concerned about UV-induced skin aging should take a look at the skin rejuvenation treatments available at the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery.

Related internal links:

Source: Medscape Medical News

California bans use of tanning beds by minors

Ultraviolet tanning bed

Governor Jerry Brown has signed a new bill into law which will prohibit the use of ultraviolet tanning beds by people under the age of 18 in California.

California is the first state to ban minors from using tanning beds. The law is intended to protect minors from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, especially the associated increased risk of skin cancer.

“Skin cancer is a rising epidemic and the leading cause of cancer death for women between 25 and 29,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Senator Ted Lieu.

The new law goes into effect January 1, 2012.

Information and quote from State bans use of tanning beds by minors –Reuters