Practical and experimental consideration of sun protection in dermatology

Much is known regarding the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on the skin. As more epidemiologic and basic research continues to characterize the impact of sun exposure and other sources of UV radiation upon the development of cutaneous neoplasm and a variety of photosensitive dermatoses, it is crucial for the dermatologist to promote sun protection among his/her patients as well as the primary care physician who has a greater reach of the community than the skin specialist. Practical steps to achieve optimal sun protection include avoidance of UV radiation, avoidance of photosensitizing drugs, use of photo-protective clothing, and diligent application of broad-spectrum sunscreens. In recent years, novel agents and experimental modalities with the potential to offer enhanced protective effects against deleterious sequelae of sun exposure have been elucidated, e.g. antioxidants, alpha-MSH, polyphenol in green teas, genistein, NF-kB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides, pTpT vaccination, and IL-12. As these new photo-protective tools are being developed by scientists around the world, greater concerted effort is needed to engage public health officials and the media to promote sun protection awareness throughout the general public.