Newswise — (New York, August XX, 2014) – A day spent outdoors watching tennis without proper protection can cause sunburn to both your skin and eyes. Exposure to ultraviolet rays can significantly increase your risk for skin cancer and damage your eyes.
Experts Available for Interview• Dr. Hooman Khorasani, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine and Chief of Division of Mohs, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery in the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology• Dr. Priti Batta, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine and Assistant Director of the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
Tips: • Always wear sunscreen. SPF 30 should be the minimum when you go outside; even on cloudy days, re-apply every two hours to exposed skin. • Wear protective clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, pants and a wide-brimmed hat.• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. The eyes are very sensitive to sunlight, and sun exposure can cause damage to the retina, an important membrane inside the eye, or can damage the lens, leading to a cataract. • Never plan to sunbathe. You might not immediately realize the damage you are doing by intentionally soaking up the sun; damage can take anywhere between 10-20 years to show. The sun dissolves the collagen and elastin that keep your skin healthy. Damage from UV rays is also cumulative in the eyes, potentially causing irreversible damage to sensitive tissue. • Get an annual checkup. Annual dermatology visits to monitor changes in your skin, and as well as yearly eye exams with an ophthalmologist, are just as important as annual physicals and regular trips to the dentist. Nearly 50 percent of UV exposure occurs between the ages of 19 – 40. Excessive UV exposure from the sun can burn the cornea and cause pain, changes or loss of vision.
Facts:•Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with one in five Americans developing it over the course of their lives. • Melanoma is fastest growing cancer in men and number two in women.• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer and if caught early it has a cure rate of 95-99 percent.• When diagnosed and treated early, eyelid cancers usually respond well to surgery and follow-up care, with the eye and eyelid largely retaining normal function.• At least 10 percent of cataract cases are directly attributable to UV exposure.• New research suggests UV exposure may also contribute to age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services—from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.
The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians, 12-minority-owned free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, over 45 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, as well as 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report.
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