Ban the tan

Who would have thought back in the 1960s and 1970s, when beaches used to be dotted with bronzed bodies covered in sun tan oil and vinegar, that a mere decade or two later, the sun was to be portrayed in such bad light?

Was this a case of false alarm or just another ploy to create sensation? Indeed not. Irrefutable scientific evidence has since changed our perception of the interaction between the sun and human health.

Not only do the sun's ultraviolet rays induce skin cancer, including the deadly melanoma, but the sun is also bad news for those who treasure their looks, as these same ultraviolet rays also speed up the formation of wrinkled, blotchy skin.

The World Health Organisation has declared melanoma a global threat of epidemic proportions, particularly affecting white Caucasian populations in developed countries.

In the year 2000, a total of 132,602 cases of melanoma were reported worldwide and 37,047 people died from it. What is more worrying is the progressive rising incidence of this deadly cancer in recent decades.

Malta has been no exception. According to Maltese National Cancer Registry statistics, there was an overall 42 per cent rise in the incidence of melanoma over the last 10 years.

Although melanoma used to be commoner in women, men have now caught up and the male to female ratio is currently 50:50. This is because there has been a 76 per cent increased incidence in men compared to 21 per cent increase in women over the last 10 years.

The local mortality rate for melanoma has gone up by 93 per cent in the last 10 years, again with a sharper rise seen in males.

The emphasis of this year's Euro-melanoma campaign is on changing attitudes and behaviour among adolescents.

This is naturally easier said than done. We are all familiar with the rebellious nature that characterises teenage. The effort is however worthwhile because the irreversible sun damage sustained during these carefree years tends to reach considerable levels and in turn translates into equally considerable morbidity in years to follow.

A recent local survey among adolescent schoolchildren revealed that despite the fact that these younger citizens are well aware of the harmful effects of the sun, the suntan is still overwhelmingly popular.

A concerted effort by health authorities, the media, and education authorities is needed to help phase out the glamorous aura around the tan. Difficult but not impossible.

Most are probably aware of the introduction of the Ultraviolet (UV) Index in the local weather forecast in the last year. This index on a 0 to 10 scale gives us a very reliable indication of the intensity of harmful ultraviolet rays around midday.

It provides an extremely useful guide for protection against sunburn, especially for those with fair skin.

With a UV Index of seven or over, one is strongly urged to use appropriate sunscreen generously, cover up with a hat and appropriate clothing, and stick to the shade especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The UV index in Maltese springtime has already hit mark eight as early as mid-April, and is expected to hover around nine and 10 throughout the summer.

Many are easily caught unawares around this time of year. This year you cannot say you have not been warned!

Dr Scerri is head, department of dermatology, Sir Paul Boffa Hospital.