Melanin: Aging of the Skin and Skin Cancer – Diet
Melanin: Aging of the Skin and Skin Cancer
Diana Clarke
"Ultraviolet UV radiation is responsible for 90% of the visible signs of aging on the skin of whites," says Dr. Michael J. Martin, former Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California, San Francisco.
Blacks skin, however, ages much slower.
Why are most dark-skinned blacks protected from harmful UV rays Because compared to whites, blacks possess more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.
Melanin
Melanin offers protection against UV rays for blacks and other dark-skinned people. Conversely, fair-skinned people are much less protected and more susceptible to skin cancer. Furthermore, albinos skin offers no protection.
Although blacks skin produces more melanin than whites, all skin has the same number of melanocytes, the cells that manufacture the melanin.
Melanocytes manufacture melanin from an amino acid, tyrosin, with the help of an enzyme, tyrosinase. In the bottom layer of the epidermis above the dermis, UV light stimulates the production of melanin in the form of insoluble melanosomes. These surround the epidermal cells, which move up to the surface of the skin. The result is a tan.
Blacks skin produce more melanin, even in the absence of sunlight, and their type of melanin, eumelanin, is more effective at blocking solar rays. However, white skin produces melanin only in the presence of sunlight and after the UV rays have penetrated the lower portion of the epidermis and have caused skin damage.
"Melanin also functions as an excellent free radical scavenger. It affects the delicately designed lipids that hold moisture in the stratum corneum the outermost layer of the epidermis. If the skin loses its moisture, it becomes rigid and cracks," says Sergio Nacht, PhD., Senior Vice-President of Enhanced Derm Technologies, Inc. in Redwood City.
UV Radiation and Skin
UV-A has the longest wavelength, is not filtered by the ozone and passes through glass. It reaches the earth all year long and the amount is comparatively stable. It can penetrate the skin down to the dermis, beneath the four layers of epidermis. It is responsible for most of the visible signs of aging, due to damage to collagen and elastic fibers of the connective tissue of the dermis.
UV-A radiation also plays a role in the development of sunburns and skin cancer. Tanning salon lamps emit a large amount of UV-A rays to generate tans, so the American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend their use.
UV-B radiation, which is partially filtered by the ozone, penetrates the skin to the bottom layer of the epidermis where the basal cells are produced. UV-B can break the molecular bonds, disturbing the dividing cells and altering their structure. Compared with UV-A, UV-B is responsible for most of DNAs damage. It also causes most sunburns. During a sunburn the reddening of the skin, erythema, is caused by dilation of capillaries.
More UV-B is present during summer months between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at latitudes closer to the equator. Furthermore, at high altitudes the air is thinner and cleaner, so UV-B radiation is more abundant.
UV-C, which is generally filtered by the ozone, has the shortest wavelength and the most energy, or intensity. It can sterilize hospital equipment and kill bacteria.
In addition, UV light that reaches the earth is scattered in all directions, and up to 85% is reflected from surfaces.
The Theory of Melanin for Environmental Adaptation
Originally, people of a particular race resided in a particular area. As time went on, their skin adapted to the environment. For instance, people who lived geographically close to the equator had darker skin, and people who lived far from the equator had lighter skin.
In Scotland, which lies at a northern latitude, descendants of the Britons have white skin. When their skin is exposed to the meager sunlight, the scant amount of melanin their skin produces is unable to block the sunlight. Therefore, their bodies are able to make Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D, a vitamin found in fish oil, is necessary to prevent rickets, a bone disease caused by too little calcium.
In contrast, in Africa, which is near the equator, blacks require intense sunlight to penetrate their dark skin to make Vitamin D. This is all well and good. However, when blacks lived in England during the Industrial Revolution, they were the first to develop symptoms of rickets, such as retarded growth, bowed legs and fractures because not enough sunlight was available.
Fortunately, in 1930, Vitamin D was discovered and dispensed as a supplement to add to the diet.
On the other hand, the skin of whites in Australia are in complete opposition to their climate. Consequently, intense UV radiation has been the major cause of skin damage and skin cancer Down Under.
About The Author
Diana Clarke is a teacher, freelance writer and founder of The Sun and Your Skin, a website on life and light at http://www.yourskinandsun.com.
dianaclarke2001@yahoo.com
Teens to Raise Money in Skateboarding Marathon for Cancer Research – Diet
Teens to Raise Money in Skateboarding Marathon for Cancer Research
Diana Clarke
A very resourceful teen from Ontario, Canada, will be skating across North America to Canada to help raise funds for cancer research.
Skate4Cancer is a marathon that will begin in Los Angeles and end in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Beginning in early March, Robert Dyer, Kyle Massaar and a group of friends plan to visit skateparks to promote Skate4cancer and to raise awareness of cancer research and funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Robert Dyer will be skateboarding the distance--around 5,000 miles from Los Angeles to Canada. He is working with a personal trainer every morning. Whats more he is following a diet and exercise program to prepare himself for the marathon, which will include trekking through the desert and the rockies.
The gang has already been hosting events to collect donations for the supplies and equipment they will need for the trip, including propane stoves, Hammocks, flashing Lights, tents, coolers, microwave, fridge, and several propane tanks. They will be dedicating their journey to their heroes, Tony Hawk and Terry Fox, and to cancer victims everywhere. Rob will dedicate The first and last kilometer of the trip to the memory of Wendy M. Dyer.
Schedule
Los Angeles to Orange March 3 to 6
Orange to Ontario March 7 to 10
Ontario to Phoenix March 11 to 26
Phoenix to Houston March 27 to May 17
Houston to Waveland May 18 to June 13
Waveland to Knoxville June 14 to 27
Knoxville to Louisville June 28 to July 15
Louisville to Cleveland July 16 to August 3
Cleveland to York August 4 to 13
York to Moorestown August 14 to 20
Moorestown to Elizabeth August 21 to 23
Elizabeth to New York August 24 to September 3
New York to Johnston September 4 to 14
Johnston to Oakland September 15 to 20
Oakland to Niagara Falls September 21 to 25
Niagara Falls to Oakville September 26 to October 1
Oakville to Toronto October 2 to 7
Toronto to Newmarket October 8 to 10
For more information contact : Skate4Cancer
Email: skate4cancer@hotmail.com
http://www.skate4cancer.com/
About The Author
Diana Clarke is a teacher, freelance writer and founder of The Sun and Your Skin, a health and science website on life and light at http://www.yourskinadun.com.
dianaclarke2001@yahoo.com
W.H.O. gets cancer – Diet
W.H.O. gets cancer
Simon Mitchell
Below The World Health Organisation W.H.O. summarise what we know about cancer from scientific research:
Cancer is largely preventable: by stopping smoking, providing healthy food and avoiding the exposure to carcinogens.
Some of the most frequent cancer types are curable by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The chance of cure increases substantially if cancer is detected early.
Quality of life of cancer patients and their families can be greatly improved by the provision of palliative care.
Cancer control is a public health approach aimed at reducing causes and consequences of cancer by translating our knowledge into practice.
Recommendations from the World Health Organisation concerning cancer include action in the following areas:
minimising or eliminating exposure to cancer causes
reducing individual susceptibility to the effects of these causes
serving the greatest public health potential
identifying the most cost-effective long-term cancer control
tobacco control
obesity control
control of composition of the diet
control of consumption of alcoholic beverages
The World Health Organisation sees cancer prevention programmes as part of integrated, national strategies. The risks they identify for cancer above are common to all noncommunicable diseases including heart, diabetes and respiratory problems. Prevention programmes for all chronic diseases are able to use the same surveillance and health promotion techniques. According to WHO recognised causes of cancer include:
occupational and environmental exposure to a number of chemicals
links between a number of infections and certain types of cancer
parasitic infection schistosomiasis
exposure to some forms of ionising radiation
excessive ultraviolet radiation
W.H.O. treatment priorities
Early detection improves chances of survival, but WHO stress ‘only when linked to effective treatment’. The WHO want to increase our awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and help set up regular screening of apparently healthy individuals.
Accurate diagnosis of cancer is the first step to effective management. Care of cancer patients starts with recognition of some kind of abnormality in the body, followed by a visit to a health care facility for diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is confirmed then the disease is ‘staged’. The patient might be referred to a specialist cancer treatment centre.
Orthodox treatment for the cancer is likely to involve a mixture of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and surgery. The primary objectives of cancer treatment are: cure, the prolongation of life and improvement of the quality of life.
Survival rates
Survival rates in standard treatments vary according to the variety of cancer. For example the advanced treatment of cancer of the uterine corpus, breast, testis, and melanoma may produce a 5-year survival rate of 75% or more. Survival rates in cancer of the pancreas, liver, stomach, and lung are generally less than 15%. Because of the nature of cancer, many patients present themselves with advanced disease. The only realistic treatment for these patients is pain relief and palliative care. For insurance purposes, cancer is often regarded as incurable.
About The Author
Simon Mitchell
This is an extract from Dont Get Cancera new ebook available only at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/dontget1.html