1. FOTOTOXIDAD TRAS EXPOSICIÓN A LA “RUDA”:
La fototoxicidad es una reacción inflamatoria que afecta sobre el órgano de la piel a causa de la combinación de una sustancia química administrada de forma oral o tópica con radiaciones ultravioletas. La sustancia química a la que nos referimos es a la ruta graveolens, conocida como ruda. Los componentes de ésta que causan la reacción cutánea son las furanocumarinas entre las cuales destacan el 5- metoxipsoraleno (bergapteno) y el 8- metoxipsoraleno (xantofina) y los alcaloides del grupo de la quinolina. Todos estos componentes se encuentran en menor medida en alimentos como los limones, limas, zanahorias, perejil y eneldo.
Estas sustancias junto a la radiación ultravioleta producen daño del ADN causando apoptosis celular. En relación a la piel, afecta sobre la dermis y la epidermis. El período de latencia hasta que encontramos lesiones es corto, que va desde minutas a horas, dependiendo de la posterior exposición al sol.
La ruta graveolens es una planta que proviene del sur de Europa la cual suele cultivarle en jardines debido al colorido de sus flores. También se usa como condimento o hierba medicinal. En la Antigüedad se ha usado como una sustancia abortiva, en el tratamiento de espasmos intestinales, varices y hemorroides. También se ha evidenciado que tiene características antiparasitarias. En algunos países es considerado que protege de malos espíritus.
La fototoxicidad es una reacción tóxica que no depende de
Many people think that is it possible to achieve a “healthy tan,” but this thought has been proven wrong. Overexpose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. An appearance of a tan is actually a stage of burning and damage to the skin. Although a tan may be desirable to many, the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure.
The other cause is the degree of pigmentation of the skin. Individuals with the highest risk are people who live in sunny places and people who have fair skin. The areas of the body that are the most exposed to sunlight are the areas of the face and head. Here, cancer is more likely to develop. (Bair, 1991, P. 368).
Melanoma is caused by over exposure to UV which can sometimes cause sunburn, it can be especially critical to those whom are inclined to the disease itself. The tumours derive in the pigment-producing melanocytes which are inside the basal layer of the
Have you ever felt the “false sense of security that [you] may not feel under direct sunlight” from a tanning bed (Jeffrey)? Your body relaxes, you feel serene, and you get a golden glow. Some teens strive for this feeling...and the tan. Tanning is the skin's response to injury, according to Arielle Kauvar, M. D. The exposure of UV rays over time can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer is the growth of abnormal growth of skin cells that forms in the tissue of the skin (Skin Cancer). Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, can come from UV rays. From 1998- 2008, the number of cases of Melanoma has increased by about
United States. Skin cancer has been the most popular form of cancer that is growing especially since the invention of tanning beds. Sun exposure and radiation exposure increase the risk of skin cancer. The definition of cancer is abnormal cell growth or behavior. Studies have shown that sun and radiation exposure damage the cells in your body. Richard Wagman is the author of this article; he is a doctor who specializes in internal medicine. The publication is from The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia, which is a book written by M.D. Richard
lifetime to ultraviolet light can cause Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It can occur in different areas of
Dermatologists, physicists, and scientists conducted a workshop of UVA treatment, and the workshop’s findings are presented in the New England Journal of Medicine. A previous president of the American Academy of Dermatology wrote an article titled “UVA1 is Often A1” to discuss their findings. The workshop found that medium or high-dose UVA1 works well with morphea, urticarial pigmentosa, atopic dermatitis, dyshydrotic dermatitis, subacute pruigo, and systemic lupus erythematosus. These diseases are treated by UVA rays because the wavelength is longer, which means there is less energy delivered to the skin and the greater penetration of photons (Dahl, 2012). Dermatologists even use sunbeds with higher intensity than regular tanning beds in their offices. For example, Windsor Dermatology uses four different types of light therapy to treat the skin condition psoriasis. One type of light therapy is that of UVA. The anti-inflammatory properties of ultraviolet light aid in slowing the growth of psoriasis effected skin
Most people are exposed to large amount UVA rays in their lifetime.They account for up to ninety-five percent of
Prolonged exposure to the sun has many different effects on one’s health. Overexposure to the sun affects people’s health in positive and negative ways. It causes basal cell carcinoma, a skin cancer caused by overexposure to the sun. Prolonged exposure to the sun can also lead to squamous cell carcinoma,
Indoor tanning exposes users to two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. UVA rays are suspected to be linked to the development of melanoma and other skin cancers. Worldwide, there are more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases due to smoking. Tanning causes damage to the DNA in our skin cells, which leads to abnormal growth that could be benign or malignant. Tanning also weakens our immune system which compromises our body's capability of fighting against malignancies and cancer cells. There are two types of skin cancer that can be caused by tanning- basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. These types are treatable with early detection. Development of melanoma can be fatal."In the US alone, 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning. Out of this number, 6,199 are melanoma cases" (Skin Cancer Foundation). It has been found that younger tanners are at higher risk of developing skin cancers from tanning, but with the high levels of UV exposure, any tanner should take
Several findings are made based on the results: UV radiation can cause cell death by inducing genetic mutation, which agree with Diepegen et al. (2012)’s finding regarding UV radiation’s destructive effect at a cellular level. Photoprotective agents can effectively prevent and reduce UV radiation induced damage to cells. Similar findings were made by Quatrano and Dinulos (2013), who indicated that sunscreen contains active ingredient that absorbs UV radiation ranging between 290-400 nm. This experiment proves that photoprotective agents with higher SPF values are more effective in absorbing UV radiation. Indicated by Green et al. (2011), they suggested that regular application of high SPF sunscreen will prevent melanoma.
This disease is present in individuals from all age groups and it is not particular to either gender. Furthermore, malignant melanoma develops after chemical substances have damaged melanocytes by prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV light causing the epidermis to change in color, size and shape. This disease affects several organs and its deteriorating effect disrupts homeostasis and allows other viruses and diseases to weaken the body and cause greater discomfort and pain, which eventually may lead to death. Although the incidence of malignant carcinoma is increasing yearly, it can be diagnosed in its early stages and treated by means of surgical excision. Its ugly and irregular form in addition to redness, inflammation and swelling produced around nevi distinguishes melanoma. If the cancer has progressed to its more advanced stages, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is used to combat the disease. Steps taken to prevent such fatal cancer are simple and for the most part do not require medication. Among these steps avoiding excessive exposure to light, whether natural or artificial, seems to decrease the chances of developing cancer. There are genetic factors, however, that predispose humans to the onset of
C. Melanoma Skin Cancer is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it kills one person per hour, these cancerous growths are most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole.
When UV-B rays (ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than UV-A rays) penetrate the membrane of a cell, it can damage DNA, resulting in cell mutations, or cells dying off. In humans, this can lead to skin cancer and a changed immune system functioning, which can lead to other problems such as skin lesions. Exposure to UV-B rays can also result in the development of cataracts in the eyes and vision impairment. Similarly in plants, UV-B rays affect DNA and cell processes. These effects become apparent during photosynthesis, reducing plant sizes and harming reproductive and immune systems.
Every hour at least one American will die of skin cancer caused by exposure to the sun. These statistics are alarming and most people are unaware that the sunshine that we all love so much is in fact a threat to our health and good looks. It is up to us to educate ourselves and our children on the harmful effects of sun exposure on the human body like premature aging, physical damage to the body, and cancerous diseases.