Only 15 minutes of UV exposure can damage your skin (CDC). An accumulation of sunburns can increase the risk of skin cancer in one’s future life, and in the US alone, skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer in general. Research shows having more than 4 sunburns will likely increase the chances of getting melanoma--a serious form of skin cancer--by two. Additionally, “1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer by the age of 70,” and that more people die from skin cancer every 2 second in the United States (Skin Cancer Foundation). 

By being out in the sun without protection, be it by sunblock or clothing, cells are directly attacked by the UV rays that you are exposed to. Biologically, it changes the structure of your DNA by causing carbon bonds between adjacent thymines in the double helix. Structurally, this creates a kink in the DNA molecule of your cells. Most of these structural changes are fixed by repair mechanisms within your cells naturally; however, it is important to note that UV exposure adds up over time. 

There are two main forms of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma skin cancer begins in melanocytes, which are the pigment cells directly on the top layer of your skin. In contrast to this, non melanoma skin cancer includes several types including basal cell carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. Comparatively, melanoma skin cancer is more serious and harder to treat, and is vastly caused by sun exposure. It is estimated by the Skin Cancer Foundation that “the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed in 2020 will increase by almost 2 percent.” 

Technological advancement has directly tackled the increasing number of skin cancer cases globally. For instance, LogicInk has created “Daily Suncare Signals,” which can be described as a temporary tattoo that measures your UV exposure buildup cumutalivelty, and can signal when you have “reached your daily (safe) sun limit” and when you need to apply extra protection. Carson Bruns from the University of Colorado is currently undergoing research in developing a “smart tattoo” by biomedically engineering tattoo ink to change color when your skin is exposed to UV rays. From this, Bruns believes that his UV-sensitive “will help people stay healthy and more informed about their body, while also giving people new ways to express themselves creatively” (Inked Magazine). 

As climate change continues to accelerate over time, changes to the ozone, in addition to behavioral changes as climates become warmer, are of importance when looking at the phenomenon of skin cancer around the world. Researchers have already investigated the association between skin cancer and climate change, and came to a conclusion that climate change has to be “acted upon now to protect the public from this preventable threat” (Bharath and Turner). 

References:

Adamakos, Tess. “INKED Talks with the Creator of the New ‘Smart Tattoo’ That Indicates When You Need Sunscreen.” Tattoo Ideas, Artists and Models, 18 Dec. 2018, www.inkedmag.com/original-news/smart-tattoo-creator-talks-to-inked. 

Bharath, A K, and R J Turner. “Impact of climate change on skin cancer.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine vol. 102,6 (2009): 215-8. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2009.080261

“Melanoma.” The Skin Cancer Foundation, 23 Sept. 2020, www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/. 

“Melanoma of the Skin Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/index.htm.