By Karen Pallarito

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Aug. 17 2004(HealthDayNews) -- Americans have a passion for the

great outdoors but often seem downright lackadaisical about protecting

their skin from the sun's damaging rays.

Myths about sun exposure -- and there are quite a few -- may encourage

people's risky behaviors, experts say.

Since the mid-1980s, Americans have been warned that they get about 80

percent of their lifetime dose of damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation by

age 18. It's no surprise, then, that many adults shrug off

skin-protection advice; they think that damage has already been done.

But recent studies suggest that warning is false. One study published

last year in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology blames the

erroneous message on a mathematical misinterpretation of published data.

Americans actually get less than 25 percent of their lifetime UV dose by

age 18, investigators from the United States and the Netherlands

concluded.

"Sun damage is cumulative throughout your life," explained Linda Rutsch,

director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise

educational program, which teaches children and their adult caregivers

about protecting themselves from overexposure to the sun.

UV damage from the sun is the major cause of skin cancer. One in five

Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and one dies every

hour from the disease, the EPA says.

Cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, have doubled in

the past two decades and will continue to climb, the agency predicts.

Nonmelamoma skin cancers, while less deadly, can result in serious

health problems and disfigurement. The most common types are basal cell

carcinoma, which causes the appearance of small, fleshy bumps, and

squamous cell carcinoma, which produces nodules or red, scaly patches.

If you're an adult, it's not too late to smooth on sunscreen and don a

wide-brimmed hat. "You really do still need to protect yourself," Rutsch

insisted.

SunWise's main focus is persuading kids to adopt good sun-safety habits

while they are young to avoid skin cancer and other serious sun-related

problems later in life.

Appealing to sun-worshiping teens does present a challenge. To get

middle schoolers' attention, SunWise uses posters developed by the

American Academy of Dermatology that show a baby, a cheerleader, and a

buff young man, each with very wrinkled faces. It sends the message that

wrinkling is not a fact of aging; up to 90 percent of the visible

changes to the skin are caused by sun exposure.

"With these kids, just seeing the wrinkles gets through to them because

they care so much about their appearance," Rutsch noted.

Americans' love of the sun can make skin protection a tough sell. A

recent report from the American Cancer Society shows many kids are not

taking sun protection seriously. Three quarters reported getting

sunburns during the summer months.

Like teenagers, many adults are equally clueless about the damage the

sun can cause.

"The most common myth -- and I still can't believe it -- is that a

little bit of tan protects you from the sun," said Dr. Lynn

McKinley-Grant, a private practice dermatologist and spokeswoman for the

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

"Even though you don't burn you're still getting sun damage," she said.

Excessive sun exposure, especially blistering sunburns incurred during

childhood, can promote malignant melanoma, the AAD says. But there's

also evidence that UV radiation used in indoor tanning equipment may

cause melanoma, too.

A vaccine currently in clinical trials is showing promise for people

with advanced cases of melanoma, McKinley-Grant said. At the moment,

though, the best hope for patients is to diagnose their cancer early and

remove it surgically, before it spreads to other parts of the body, she

said.

If premature aging and skin cancer aren't scary enough, here's another

reason to take precautions when you're in the sun: Certain medications

and medical conditions can react with ultraviolet light, causing people

to burn quickly, a phenomenon known as "photosensitivity."

Scores of commonly used drugs can, in some people, cause phototoxic

reactions. The list includes antibiotics, such as tetracycline;

anti-hypertensive medications, like hydrochlorothiazide; and even common

pain relievers, including ibuprofen and naprosyn.

Certain herbal products can cause photosensitivity, too. Bergamot oil,

used to flavor Earl Grey tea, is one that has a strong phototoxic effect.

Skin exposure to certain plants along with sunlight also can produce a

sunburn-like response. Limes have been implicated in a number of

reported cases.

Another kind of photosensitivity, called photoallergy, produces an itchy

rash when a person is exposed to sunlight. It is caused by certain

medicines and fragrances. Some people even have photoallergic responses

to sunscreens containing PABA, a tanning agent.

You can't avoid the sun, but experts recommend taking certain

precautions to reduce your risk of premature aging, skin cancer and

other sunlight-induced skin reactions.

Since the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., it's best

to limit exposure during those hours.

"If your going to the beach, take a good umbrella with you," advises

McKinley-Grant. "You can wear a good waterproof sunscreen." Just don't

sit there and bake.

Before the kids go out, make sure to slather them with sunscreen, too.

SunWise's Rutsch recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that

protects against both UVA and UVB rays and reapplying it frequently.

Look for sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15.

Seeking out shade and covering up as much as possible are also simple

measures that can save your skin.

"Children, especially, need to be active; we certainly aren't

encouraging kids to stay indoors," Rutsch said. "Just try and do as many

of the steps as possible."

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Examination or advice of your physician or medical professional. Only your physician can make medical decisions and treatment plans which are appropriate for you.