Sunburn and Sun-Sensitizing Drugs
Medically Reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
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Debunking Summer Health Myths
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
As children, most of us heard lots of health advice. Unfortunately, some of
it, however well–intentioned, was medically incorrect. See if you've ever heard
– or believed – any of these common summer health myths.
- "Wait a half hour after eating before you can safely go swimming." This one seemed almost universally
accepted when I was a child and is still believed today. The myth involves the
possibility of suffering severe muscle cramping and drowning from swimming on
a full stomach. While it's true that the digestive process does divert the
circulation of the blood toward the
gut and to a certain extent, away from the muscles, the fact is that an
episode of drowning caused by swimming on a full stomach has never been
documented. Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the American Red Cross makes any specific recommendations
about waiting any amount of time after eating before taking a swim. There's a
theoretical possibility that one could develop a cramp while swimming with a
full stomach, but a person swimming in a pool or controlled swimming area
could easily exit the water
if this happens. As with any exercise after eating, swimming right after a
big meal might be uncomfortable, but it won't cause you to drown.
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What is sunburn?
Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that is caused by
overexposure to
ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. A similar burn can follow
overexposure to a "sun" (tanning) lamp. UV radiation can also damage
the eyes, although no surface burn is apparent.
Can sunburn cause permanent damage?
Yes. Sunburn early in life increases the risk of developing
skin cancer later on. Repeated
overexposure to ultraviolet rays can also scar, freckle, dry out, and wrinkle
the skin prematurely. In addition, frequent overexposure to ultraviolet rays can
increase the risk of developing eye
cataracts and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
What is UV light?
UV light is radiation energy in the form of invisible light
waves. UV light is
emitted by the sun and by tanning lamps.
The sun discharges three types of ultraviolet radiation:
ultraviolet A (UV-A), ultraviolet B (UV-B), and ultraviolet C (UV-C).
Only UV-A and UV-B reach earth. (UV-C does not penetrate the earth's
upper atmosphere.)
Although research has long implicated UV-B as the most likely form
of UV to damage the skin and cause skin cancer, recent studies
suggest that UV-A may also be dangerous.
Tanning lamps also produce UV-A and/or UV-B. These artificial
rays affect the skin in the same way as do UV-A and UV-B from the
sun.
Next: When and where are UV rays most intense? »
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Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2007
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