REVIEW PAPER
The sun – our friend or foe?
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Dermatology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
2
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
3
Department of Biophysics, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(4):805-809
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Sunlight is the major source of the energy on Earth. Visible light, ultraviolet and infrared radiation are necessary to sustain life on our planet. However, besides the range of positive effects, such as photosynthesis in plants, warmth, vision, and synthesis of vitamin D, sunlight may also be responsible for negative biologic effects – sunburn, induction of photodermatoses or carcinogenesis. Ultraviolet is regarded as the major environmental, physical hazard to the human skin.
Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge:
The acute clinical effect of ultraviolet involves melanogenesis, i.e. tanning, which protects from sunburn if exposure is overdosed. A single exposure, as well as acute suberythemal irradiation, suppresses sensitization of the contact hypersensitivity. The chronic biological effects are photoageing and skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Vitamin D synthesis is regarded as a benefit of natural acute and chronic exposure to ultraviolet. Ultraviolet also plays an important role in aetiology of the group of disorders characterized by photosensitivity.
On the other hand ultraviolet is a known inducer of immunosuppression in the skin; therefore, phototherapy is a therapeutic option for patients with activation of dermal immunity.
Summary:
Without sunlight, the existence of life on Earth is not possible. On the other hand, UVR radiation is regarded as representing one of the most important environmental hazards for human skin. For a better understanding of the mechanisms related to the influence of UVR on human skin, and the most dangerous chronic effects of carcinogenesis, it is necessary to undertake some protective activities. Moreover, UVR may become our ally in the treatment of selected skin disorders.
REFERENCES (55)
1.
Ferguson J, Dover JS. Photodermatology. Manson Publishing Ltd, London UK 2006.
2.
Krutmann J, Honigsmann H, Elmets CA. Dermatological phototherapy and photodiagnostic methods. Sec. Ed. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg 2009.
3.
Wolska H. Fototerapia w dermatologii. Wydanie I, Czelej, Lublin 2006.
4.
Moseley H. Population exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Proceedings of the first European Course of Photodermatology. 18-19 May 2012, Rome, Italy.
5.
Peters CE, Nicol AM, Demers PA. Prevalence of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the job in Canada. Can J Publ Heath 2012; 103: 223-6.
6.
Dutkiewicz J, Cisak E, Sroka J, Wójcik-Fatla A, Zając V. Biological agents as occupational hazards – selected issues. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2011; 18: 286-293.
7.
Norval M, Lucas RM, Cullen AP, de Gruijl FR, Longstreth J, Takizawa Y, van der Leun JC. the human health effects of ozone depletion and interactions with climate change. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2011; 10: 199-225.
8.
van Dijk, Slaper H, den Outer PN, Morgenstern O, Braesicke P, Pyle JA, et al. Skin cancer risk avoidet by the Montreal Protocol – wordwide modelling integrating coupled climate-chemistry models with a risk model for UV. Photochem Photobiol 2012; Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print].
9.
Timares L, Katiyar S, Elmets CA. DNA damage, apoptosis and Langerhans cells – activators of UV-induced Immune Tolerance. Photochem Photobiol. 2008; 84: 422-436.
10.
Rochette PJ, errien JP, Drouin R, Perdiz D, Bastien N, Drobetski EA, Sage E. UVA-induced cyclobutane pirymidyne dimers from predominantly at thymine-thymine dipirimidimers and corelate with the mutation spectrum in rodent cells. Nucleic Acid Res. 2003; 31: 2786-2794.
11.
Courdavault S, Baudoin C, Charveron M, Favier A, Cadet J, Douki T. Larger yeald of cyclobutane dimers than 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine in the DNA of UVA-irradiated human skin cells. Mutation research. Fundam Mol Mech Mutagen. 2004; 556: 135-142.
12.
Freeman SE, Hacham H, Gange RW, Maytum DJ, Sutherlan JC, Sutherland BM. Wavelengh dependance of pirymidine dimer formation in DNA of human skin irradiated in situ with ultraviolet light. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1989; 86: 5605-5609.
13.
Xiang Y, Liu G, Yang L, Zhong JL. UVA-induced protection of skin through the induction of heme oxygenase-1. Biosci Trends 2011; 5: 239-44.
14.
Young AR. Acute and chronic effects of ultraviolet radiation. Proceedings of the first European Course of Photodermatology. 18-19 May 2012, Rome, Italy.
15.
Kolanko M, Brzezińska-Wcisło L. Vitamin D and its receptor – role and activity in the human body. Anomalies of metabolism and structure associated with psoriasis. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2011; 3: 212-216.
16.
Reichrath J, Reichtath S. Hope and challenge: the importance of ultraviolet radiation for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis and skin cancer. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl 2012; 234: 112-9.
17.
Grant WB. Role of solar UVB irradiance and smoking in cancer as inferred from cancer incidence rates by occupation in Nordic countries. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012; 4: 203-11.
18.
Hawk J. Vitamin D and ultraviolet radiation exposure. Proceedings of the first European Course of Photodermatology. 18-19 May 2012, Rome, Italy.
19.
Photoaging-associated mito-chondria DNA length mutation in human ageing skin. Arch Dermatol Res. 1995; 287: 641-8.
20.
Stetler-Stevenson WG, Yu AE. Proteases in invasion: matrix metalloproteinases. Semin Cancer Biol. 2001; 11: 143-52.
21.
Olek-Hrab K, Hawrylak A, Czarnecka-Operacz M. Selected problems of skin aging. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2008; 5: 226-234.
22.
Wolf K, Johnson RA. Fitzpatrick’s Colour Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology. Sixth edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., United States of America 2009.
23.
Rhodes LE, Bock M, Janssens AS, Ling TC, Anastasopoulou L, Antoniou C, et al. Polymorphic light eruption occurs in 18% of Europeans and does not show higher prevalence with increasing latitude: multicenter survey of 6,895 individuals residing from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia. J Invest Dermatol. 2010; 130: 626-8.
24.
Aubin F, Humbert P. Polymorphic light eruption, skin cancer and immunity. Br J Dermatol. 2009; 161: 191.
25.
Seligman PJ, Mathias T, O’Malley MA, Beier RC, Fehrs LJ, Serrill WS, Halperin WE. Phytophoto-dermatitis from celery among grocery store workers. Arch Dermatol. 1987; 123: 1478-1482.
26.
Oakley AMM, Ive FA, Harrison MA. String trimmer’s dermatitis. J Soc Occupat Med. 1986; 36: 143-144.
27.
Żmudzińska M, Jenerowicz D, Czarnecka-Operacz M, Silny W. Problem zjawiska fotonadwrażliwości i jego diagnostyka – aktualny stan wiedzy. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2010; 5: 430-434.
28.
Śpiewak R. Dermatozy zawodowe u rolników. 2002 Czelej Lublin.
29.
Romundstad P, Janszky I, Vatten L, Bjørngård JH, Langhammer A, Mańczuk M, Zatoński WA. Cancer risk factors in Poland: the PONS Study. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2011; 18: 251-254.
30.
Helton ES, Chen X, p53 modulation of the DNA damage response. J Cell Biochem. 2007; 100: 883-96.
31.
Bang B, Gniadecki R, Larsen JK, Baadsgaard O, Skov L. In vivo UVB irradiation induces clustering of Fas (CD95) on human epidermal cells. Exp Dermatol. 2003; 12:791-798.
32.
Fisher MS, Kripke ML. Systemic alteration induced in mice by ultraviolet light irradiation and its relationship to ultraviolet carcinogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1977; 74: 1688-1692.
33.
Fisher MS, Kripke ML. Further Studies on the Tumor-Specific Supressor Cells Induced by Ultraviolet radiation. J Immunol. 1978; 121: 1139-1144.
34.
Schwarz A, Madea A, Wild MK, Kernebeck K, Gross N, Aragane Y, Beissert S, Vestweber D, Schwarz T. Ultraviolet radiation-induced regulatory Tcells not only inhibit the induction but can supress the effector phase of contact hypersensitivity. J Immunol. 2004; 172: 1036-1043.
35.
Vink AA, Moodycliffe AM, Shreedhar V, Ulrich SE, Roza L, Yarosh DB, Kripke ML. The inhibition of antigene presenting activity of dendritic cells resulting from UV radiation of murine skin is restored by in vitro photorepair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1997; 94: 5255-5260.
36.
Kütting B, Drexler H. UV-induced skin cancer at workplace and evidence-based prevention. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2010; 83: 843-54.
37.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Use of tanning devices by adults -United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012; 61: 323-6.
38.
Zhang M, Qureshi AA, Geller AC, Frazier L, Hunter DJ, Han J. Use of tanning beds and incidence of skin cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30: 1588-93.
39.
Jou PC, Feldman RJ, Tomecki KJ. UV protection and sunscreens: what to tell patients. Cleve Clin J Med. 2012; 79: 427-36.
40.
Ou-Yang H, Stan eld J, Cole C, Appa Y, Rigel D. High-SPF sunscreens (SPF>/=70) may provide ultraviolet protection above minimal recommended levels by adequately compensating for lower sunscreen user application amounts. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012; Epub ahead of print.
41.
Rodríguez-Yanes E, Juarranz Á, Cuevas J, Gonzalez S, Mallol J. Polypodium leucotomos decreases UV-induced epidermal cell proliferation and enhances p53 expression and plasma antioxidant capacity in hairless mice. Exp Dermatol. 2012; 21: 638-40.
42.
Katiyar SK, Elmets CA, Agarwal R, Mukhtar H. Protection against ultraviolet-B radiation-induced local and systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity and edema responses in C3H/HeN mice by green tea polyphenols. Photochem Photobiol. 1995; 62: 855-61.
43.
Wolf P, Maier H, Müllegger RR, Chadwick CA, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Soyer HP, et al. Tpical treatment with liposomes containing T4 endonuclease V protects human skin in vivo from ultraviolet-induced upregulation of interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Invest Dermatol. 2000; 114: 149-56.
44.
Yarosh D, Klein J, O’Connor A, Hawk J, Rafal E, Wolf P. Effect of topically applied T4 endonuclease V in liposomes on skin cancer in xeroderma pigmentosum: a randomised study. Xeroderma Pigmentosum Study Group. Lancet. 2001; 357: 926-9.
45.
Obtułowicz A, Antoszczyk G. The theoretical basis for application of NB-UVB radiation in dermatology. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2010; 5: 426-429.
46.
Hadas E, Świętochowska E, Wielkoszyński T, Jaroszewska-Smoleń J, Jarząb J. Impact of phototherapy on selected lipid metabolism indices and oxidation markers in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2011; 2: 83-91.
47.
Man I, Crombie IK, Dawe RS, Ibbotson SH, Ferguson J. The photocarcinogenic risk of narrowband UVB (TL-01) phototherapy: early follow-up data. Br J Dermatol. 2005; 152: 755-7.
48.
Dawe RS. There are no ‘safe exposure limits’ for phototherapy. Br J Dermatol. 2010; 163: 209-10.
49.
Mutzhas MF, Holzle E, Hoffmann C, Plewig G. A New apparatus with high radiation energy between 320-460 nm: physical description and dermatological applications. J Invest Dermatol. 1981; 76: 42-7.
50.
Krutmann J, Czech W, Diepegen T et al. High-dose UVA1 therapy in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992; 26: 225-230.
51.
Malinowska K, Sysa-Jędrzejowska A, Woźniacka A. UVA1 phototherapy in dermatological treatment. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2011; 1: 46–51.
52.
Silny W, Osmola-Mańkowska A, Czarnecka-Operacz M, Dańczak-Pazdrowska A, Szewczyk A. Narrow band UVA-1 phototherapy in dermatological treatment – first Polish experiences. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2010; 1: 1-10.
53.
Kerr AC, Ferguson J, Attili SK, Beattie PE, Coleman AJ, Dawe RS, et al. Ultraviolet A1 phototherapy: a british Photodermatology Group workshop report. Clin Exper Dermatol. 2012; 37: 219-226.
54.
Olek-Hrab K, Osmola-Mańkowska A, Silny W, Bowszyc-Dmochowska M, Dańczak-Pazdrowska A, Sadowska A. Use of UVA1 in the treatment of mycosis fungoides – case report. Post Dermatol Alergol. 2011; 2: 158-164.
55.
Walker D, Jacobe H. Phototherapy in the age of biologics. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2011; 30: 190-198.