Comparing Apples to Oranges: UVA&UVB Rays

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, long-wave UVA rays make up about 95 percent of the UV rays that hit Earth. These rays aren’t as intense, but there are 30-50 times more of them, and they’re present year-round in all daylight conditions. UVA rays have deeper penetration, too, and can cause wrinkles, aging, and skin cancer.

Although the effects of UVB rays are more superficial, they can cause serious damage to the epidermis. These rays are responsible for skin reddening and those nasty sunburns you get at the beach. UVB damage is more visible, and can also lead to skin cancer.

SPF: Get to Know Your Sunscreen

“For sunscreen to be really effective in preventing skin cancer, it has to provide broad-spectrum coverage,” Dr. Henry Lim, chairman of dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital, told MSNBC. “The U.S. is the only country with no guidelines for UVA protection, so consumers here have no way of knowing.”

One common misconception about a sunblock’s sun protection factor (SPF) is that the numbers—15, 30, and clear up to 100—indicate the level of protection. In actuality, it represents the amount of time a person can be exposed before the skin starts to redden. Dr. James Spencer, a St. Petersburg, Florida, dermatologist explains:

“SPF is very misleading,” he told MSNBC. “If I were a logical consumer, I would think that SPF 30 is twice as good as SPF 15. But SPF 15 blocks 94 percent of UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent. Past 30, there isn’t much additional benefit to be had.”

Where to go from here:

The best thing you can do for your skin is to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.   Seek shade during peek daylight hours (10 am to 2 pm), wear clothing that will cover or protect the skin, and find a sunscreen that has ingredients that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. These ingredients include dioxybenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Read more about UV rays at MSNBC.com, or contact the FDA about establishing guidelines for UVA protection.

Researchers examined skin samples from two European men with congenital absence of or insensitivity to pain. People with this condition have few nerves in their skin, and feel very little if any pain, temperature change or vibration.

What drew researchers to these two individuals was their excessive sweating. Although otherwise normal, they were sweating three to eight times more than usual.

“For many years, my colleagues and I have detected different types of nerve endings on tiny blood vessels and sweat glands, which we assumed were simply regulating blood flow and sweating,” says Frank Rice, lead author of the study and professor of neuroscience at Albany Medical College. “We didn’t think they could contribute to conscious sensation.”

The sensation isn’t like the feel of touch. It’s a much subtler feeling, like hearing background music from a party next door. “It is only when we shift focus away from the nerve endings associated with normal skin sensation that we can appreciate the sensation hidden in the background,” Rice explains.

The first man had never experienced pain, and could not sense water temperature, skin burns, or fractures. Although being slightly more receptive to sensation than the first, the second man also could not sense second degree burns, and had had several fractures of which he was unaware. He did report being able to feel ticklishness and itching as a child.

Despite a lack of nerve tissue in the skin, both men had sensitive tissues in the sweat glands—enough to tell if things were touching them, whether things were rough or smooth, or whether some things are warm or cold.

“Since only the innervation to the blood vessels and sweat glands is intact,” authors write, “the thermal detection from deeper tissues and the blood may be misperceived as though there is a continuously high surface temperature, thereby eliciting excessive sweating.”

Researchers believe the fact that the two subjects maintained the ability to sense some sensations suggests that vascular afferents, such as blood vesicles, may contribute to conscious touch awareness.

Read the study in the online journal, Pain.

Some of the National Football League’s (NFL’s) biggest stars have been sidelined recently by staphylococcus (staph) infections. First it was reported that Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow had to be hospitalized for three days in mid-October after he contracted his second staph infection in the past three years. The Browns eventually admitted that seven such infections had occurred in Browns players over the past four years.

Next, the Boston Herald reported that New England Patriots quarterback and NFL MVP Tom Brady, who had two knee ligaments repaired in early October, had to have two additional knee surgeries because of subsequent infections. Staph infections are the most common cause of such surgical complications and can set back recovery by months. Brady is now on a six-week course of intravenous antibiotics, in the hopes that the infection does not compromise his surgically-repaired ligaments and force him to go under the knife yet again.

Then came the news that Indianapolis Colts superstar Peyton Manning’s off-season knee surgery in July was prompted by a staph infection in a fluid filled knee pad called a bursa sac. The sac had to be removed, forcing Manning to miss all of training camp as well as the pre-season.

Apparently, none of the NFL stars above had MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections.

There are more than 30 strains of staphylococcus and most of them are harmless. They live in soil or on the surface of the skin and can enter the body through a cut or during a medical procedure, causing an infection. Anyone can get a staph infection but athletes are at increased risk because they are more likely to suffer cuts and they also spend a lot of time in close quarters with poor sanitation, such as locker rooms and training rooms.

Steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of contracting a staph infection include practicing good hygiene (frequent hand washing is the primary defense against the transmission of most organisms, including staph) and doing your best to avoid cuts and abrasions, cleaning them thoroughly when they do occur.

To get answers to your questions about staph infections, join Healia’s Health Community on MRSA infections.

_{Photo: ckirkman, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The sun is shining in Seattle today. Yes, finally. And as we take our walks and bask on our balconies during lunch break, we must remember to be cautious of potential sun hazards, such as UV radiation; as even a brief 15 minutes of sunshine can result in unwanted sunburn for some people.

The following are some tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation about sun protection. If you have questions about sun protection or skin cancer, make sure to Ask an Expert on Healia Communities.

• Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher whenever you spend time outdoors.
• Cover up. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Seek the shade.
• Never seek a tan.
• Protect your children and teach them sun safety at an early age.

sun protection skin cancer UV radiation

The more you know about the real cause of ringworm, the better you can prevent it. You may think that ringworm is caused by a worm. Makes sense, “worm” is a part the disease’s name. Actually, ringworm has nothing to do with worms. Instead, ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. The name comes from the red ring that can appear on an infected person's skin. A ringworm infection can occur on the scalp, body, groin, feet, and nails. When it occurs on the feet, it is called athlete’s foot and when it occurs in the groin it is called jock itch.

Ringworm infections on all parts of the body are caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes, which includes several different species. Dermatophytes live among the outer portion of the skin or on hair where they feed on the keratinized cells found in the upper layers of the epidermis. Any of these parasitic species may colonize skin that is warm and moist and they tend to grow best in places like locker rooms and swimming pools.

Ringworm is highly communicable and can spread in several ways. It can be passed from person to person via direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and can also spread when you share things like clothing or towels. Ringworm can be passed to people by infected animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, and horses. The fungi can also be spread by contact with object or surfaces that were touched by an infected person or animal or, in rare cases, by contact with infected soil. If one part of your body is infected with the fungus that causes ringworm, it may spread from there to other body parts.

Sometimes ringworm causes a skin pattern in the shape of a ring, but not always. It is often just a red, itchy rash. Most ringworm of the skin can be treated at home with over-the-counter creams. If ringworm is not treated, the skin could blister, and the cracks could become infected with bacteria. If this happens, your doctor will need to prescribe antibiotics.

To help prevent ringworm, the National Institutes of Health recommends the following tips:

• Keep your skin and feet clean and dry.
• Shampoo regularly, especially after haircuts.
• Do not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, combs, headgear, or other personal care items. These items should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after use.
• Wear sandals or shoes at gyms, locker rooms, and pools.
• Avoid touching pets with bald spots.

Do you have a question about ringworm? Join Healia's health social networking site and talk with other members of the Skin Disease Community. Or you can Ask the Experts at Healia Health Communities.


_{Photo: CDC/Dr. Lucille K. Georg, Public Health Image Library}

ringworm fungus skin diseases

If you are an active viewer of YouTube, you may have seen the YouTube videos of people popping their staph infection wounds. While YouTube members have made comments varying from “awesome” to “gross”, Healia would like to provide some information on the dangers of popping a staph infection boil.

You may want to read about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections. For information on how to reduce your risk of MRSA infections, see Healia’s Health Blog: Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection.

staph infection staphylococcus MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, staph infection, “superbug”– these terms have been in the media a lot over the past year and you may be very concerned about how to prevent staph infections.

MRSA infections are caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which are now responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than AIDS. It has been nicknamed the "superbug" by the media because of its resistance to several commonly used antibiotics.

MRSA is not fundamentally different from other staph infections; it is not more virulent or longer-lived. Instead, the problem with MRSA is that because it does not respond to most antibiotics that are commonly prescribed for staph infections, it often gets a chance to do a lot of damage to the body before doctors realize that it must be treated differently. MRSA can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but it requires the use of more powerful and toxic antibiotics such as vancomycin.

Many healthy people carry staphylococcus aureus bacteria on their skin. Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound. Even then, they typically cause only minor skin infections in healthy people. But sometimes, usually in older adults and people who are ill or have weakened immune systems, ordinary staph infections can cause serious illness.

Until recently, almost all antibiotic-resistant cases of staph infection occurred inside hospitals. However, MRSA infections contracted outside of hospitals, called community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) are becoming more common. The most serious cases of CA-MRSA infection cause a “flesh eating” disease known as necrotizing fasciitis. Such infections must be treated by administering intravenous antibiotics and may require surgery to remove portions of the body infected with MRSA bacteria.

MRSA infections spread through close association such as skin-to-skin contact, contact with skin wounds and through contact with contaminated items, where staph bacteria can live for 24 hours or more. In some cases, staph bacteria can enter healthy, intact skin. The best way to reduce your chance of contracting a MRSA infection is to practice good hygiene. These tips from the Mayo Clinic can help reduce your risk of MRSA infections:

• Wash your hands. Careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.
• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Shower after athletic games or practices. Shower immediately after each game or practice. Use soap and water. Don't share towels.
• Sit out athletic games or practices if you have a concerning infection. If you have a wound that's draining or appears infected — for example is red, swollen, warm to the touch or tender — consider sitting out athletic games or practices until the wound has healed.
• Sanitize linens.If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the "hot" water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.
• Get tested. If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA. Doctors may prescribe drugs that aren't effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs. Testing specifically for MRSA may get you the specific antibiotic you need to effectively treat your infection.
• Use antibiotics appropriately. When you're prescribed an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better. Don't stop until your doctor tells you to stop. Don't share antibiotics with others or save unfinished antibiotics for another time. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, including not taking all of your prescription and overuse, contributes to resistance. If your infection isn't improving after a few days of taking an antibiotic, contact your doctor.

Want to learn more? Ask an Expert at Healia Health Communities. You can also share your experiences with others in the Healia Health Community for MRSA.  


_{Photo: Allen W. Mathies, MD, CDC Public Health Image Library}

A staph infection is an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. While there are more than thirty species of staph, one called Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for most of the infections that cause harm in humans. Many healthy people have S. aureus on the surface of their skin, inside their nose, or in their throat. It’s when these bacteria penetrate into deeper layers of the body that an infection can occur.

Staph infections can take several forms ranging from simple skin boils to flesh-eating infections to blood poisoning. The most common type of infection, cellulitis, affects the skin’s deeper layers. It might begin as a small area of inflammation causing tenderness, swelling, or redness on the skin’s surface, or as an open sore or skin ulcer. This type of infection is usually treatable with antibiotics. However, in recent years antibiotic resistant strains of S. aureushave become more common.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a form of S. aureus that cannot be treated with common antibiotics, is now a common cause of serious infection. MRSA can be treated effectively with antibiotics but it requires the use of less common and more toxic drugs such as vancomycin

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health care-associated infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year in American hospitals.

However, MRSA infections contracted outside of hospitals, called community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) are becoming more common. The most serious cases of CA-MRSA infection cause a “flesh eating” disease known as necrotizing fasciitis. Such infections must be treated by administering intravenous antibiotics and may require surgery to remove portions of the body infected with MRSA bacteria.

MRSA infections spread through close association such as skin-to-skin contact, contact with skin wounds and through contact with contaminated items, where staph bacteria can live for 24 hours or more. In some cases, staph bacteria can enter healthy, intact skin. The best way to reduce your chance of contracting a MRSA infection is to practice good hygiene, including these tips:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
• Care for wounds such as cuts and abrasions by cleaning them thoroughly and keeping them covered by a bandage. Bandages should be disposed of properly.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, cosmetics, clothing, and bars of soap.
• Wipe down exercise equipment between users.