Should people with skin that freckles sunbathe?
Answer:
Nobody should "sunbathe". Too much sun can cause skin cancer in any type of skin.
Actinic keratoses are lesions that are known as the early beginnings of skin cancer as they have the potential to progress into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Early recognition is an important factor in successful treatment. Key to early recognition is a patient who is well informed and a physician who provides relevant counseling.
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are preventable and highly treatable skin lesions resulting from damage to the skin by ultraviolet radiation. Prevention requires recognition of risk for AKs and knowledge of measures to reduce risk. Effective therapy requires early recognition, diagnosis and treatment before the lesion becomes large and unsightly and before malignant transformation of the lesion occurs.
Early recognition and treatment are facilitated when the patient at risk for AKs is well informed and the physician provides specific counseling or treatment recommendations based upon the patient’s history and comprehensive skin examination. Among physicians, dermatologists are best equipped by training and experience to counsel the patient and provide effective treatment.
Data generated from analysis of more than 700 million office visits to physicians in a given year show that dermatologists are most likely to provide effective AK and skin cancer prevention counseling based upon skin examination and medical history. [Reference: Feldman SR, Fleischer AB Jr. Skin examinations and skin cancer prevention counseling by U.S. physicians: a long way to go. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 43:234-237].
A person at risk for AKs should see a dermatologist regularly for skin examinations and specific counseling based upon the skin examinations and personal and family medical history. High risk for AKs can justify referral of a patient to a dermatologist by a primary care physician or a physician in another medical specialty.
Factors that increase risk for actinic keratoses
Age—40 or older
Color of skin—pale white to creamy white
Color of eyes—blue, gray, hazel, green
Color of hair—red or blond
Ancestry—Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Breton)
Sun exposure habits—golf, gardening, farming, fishing, hiking, sunbathing, outdoor swimming, etc.
(Read What Increases Your Risk? and What are Actinic Keratoses?)
AKs can be said to have a genetic basis because skin-hair-eye color are inheritable risk factors that make a person more susceptible to ultraviolet damage to the skin. In general, the fairer, less pigmented the skin, the greater the risk for AKs, photoaging and skin cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Dermatology recognize six skin characteristics related to skin and ultraviolet radiation:
Skin Type Sun History
Genetic Background
I Always burns easily, never tans, sun-sensitive skin Red-headed, freckled, Irish, Scot, Welsh
II Always burns easily, tans minimally, sun-sensitive skin Fair skin, fair hair, blue eyes, Caucasians
III Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, sun-sensitive skin Average skin
IV Burns minimally, always tansto moderate brown, minimally sun-sensitive Mediterranean type Caucasians
V Rarely burns, tans well, sun-insensitive skin Middle-Eastern, some Hispanics, some African-Americans
VI Never burns, deeply pigmented, sun-insensitive skin African-Americans
What the dermatologist or other physician should know about you, in addition to your risk factors for AKs
Medical history—especially any previously treated AKs or skin cancers
Family history—especially any skin cancer in the family
Sun exposure habits—occupational, recreational
Sun protection habits—is there regular use of sunscreen and protective clothing, staying out of the sun at peak hours of sun intensity?
Any skin lesions that recently appeared or you recently noticed
When did the lesion first appear?
Does it itch, burn or hurt?
Any noticeable changes in the lesion’s color or shape?
Is there anything that appears to make the lesion worse?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone practice regular skin self-examinations for any changes in the skin. If any growth, mole, sore or skin discoloration appears suddenly or begins to change, see your dermatologist.
Assessment of the skin’s texture, color, temperature and moisture can also reveal information about your general health.
Physician counseling based upon personal and family history, physical examination, and skin examination can be helpful in preventing premalignant lesions and skin cancer. Counseling can teach the patient how to self-examine for suspicious lesions. An illustrated guide that shows how to self examine your skin is found at Self Examination for Melanoma. While this guide focuses on melanoma and how to examine moles, this same process can be used to identify other changes to the skin.
The well-informed patient is a person most likely to seek medical advice based upon knowledge of risk factors and/or self-examination for a premalignant or malignant skin disease. The well-informed patient also is a person most likely to seek relevant advice and examination from a dermatologist—the medical specialist most qualified to provide that service.
If you have the kind of skin that does freckle a lot you can still sunbathe, but it also all depends on if you like all of the new freckles or not. Like with anytime you are planning on being out in the sun for an extended amount of time, remember to wear a good sun block. A lot of times individuals who freckle a lot from the sun are lighter complected and will also burn easier, so its just a little easier to wear the good sun block now rather than dealing with the skin cancer later. So, it all comes down to being your call on if you should sunbathe or not depending on if you like your freckles---just do it safe. Good luck and have a great summer.
No one should sun bathe. The amount of sun you get through a healthy, active lifestyle is plenty. (And you should always wear sunscreen when working, playing, exercising outdoors)You shouldn't be out trying to get more. Is a tan really worth the skin cancer later? You might as well start smoking.
I agree with Beth and your skin will age much faster by exposing to more radiation from the sun
You really shouldn't sun bathe/tan. Most people should use *atleast* a 15 SPF sunscreen, but because your skin is already so fair use a 30+ SPF.
Really no one should sunbathe it is very damaging to your skin. If you must bask use a SPF 50 or higher - you will still tan only slower and in a less damaging way. Good Luck!
The answer is ask your doctor first,and if he says yes then prevention is the next step.What i mean by prevention is using a proper uv protectent sunblock,also to be on the safe side i would only do it in moderation limit the amount of time you sunbathe and to much sunblock isnt enough.I researched what the cancer society recommends, and found that in patients with several types of freckles they recommend that if you are going to sunbathe only do it in moderation - and if youre skin or freckles blotch or freckles grow then consult a doctor for his advice.
Nobody should sunbathe. It's bad. It causes skin cancer. It makes you wrinkle prematurely. And yes, it can cause freckles.
Skin that freckles is usually fair skin that is excessively susceptible to sunburn. My two children and I are red heads with skin that freckles. We try to practice limited sunbathing, and always with sunscreen of some sort. Even with sunscreen we try to limit time laying in the sun. Outdoor activities area big part of our lives, and therefore, so is sunscreen. Early in the summer, we are more vigilant about the sunscreen until our skin as obtained some gradual exposure to the sun and then is not so susceptible to sunburn. After being in the water, we try to reapply sunscreen, even if it says 'waterproof' on the label.
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