European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                To your \ by Janet d Agostino medical writer a s a child or i col Eric Schoomake played in the tropical Sun of Panama his fair freckled skin protected Only by a Whitet Shirl and shorts. Schoomaker remembers being sunburned much of the time while living in the Central american country where his lather was stationed As an army service member. A dangerous reminder of those years in the Sun surfaced As an adult when Schoomaker now medical consultant for 7th medical come in Heidelberg West a Ciranny. Noticed a Small mole on his ankle that had become More prominent. A Biopsy showed to had skin cancer malignant Melanoma the least common but rnor.1 threatening of the skin cancers a a doctor who had treated numerous patients with Melanoma. Schoomaker knew the pain and suffering he might have to endure and that the cancer could very Well kill him. My experience was very  to said. I a  care of lots dozens hundreds of Melanoma patients i knew exactly what happened to these people i toll you thai does t prepare you Lor How Dill cult it is to have a  but Schoomaker was Lucky. The cancerous cells were removed he underwent treatment and eight years later he is an advocate for protecting oneself and one s children against the Sun. When Schoomaker was a child medical science had yet to raise a Hue and cry against the dangers of the Sun. And the Public had not heard about the value of sunscreens and solar Protection up factors. Even though health professionals now repeatedly warn the Public that the Sun causes skin cancer and accelerates aging Schoomaker does not believe enough people pay heed if the Chance of getting cancer does t convince the Public to use sunscreen then people who want a Tan to enhance their Beauty should know that wrinkles not smooth glowing skin will be the eventual result of years spent in the Sun they Are really buying Short term cosmetic effect Lor a Long term More pronounced cosmetic  Schoomaker said. Ultraviolet radiation irom the Sun penetrates the skin and damages the Clastic fibres and blood vessels that keep the skin healthy and Youthful and prevent it irom wrinkling said or. Col Thomas Larry Smith chief of dermatology at the army Hospital in Nurnberg and dermatology consultant Lor 7lh medical come. The Sun is a big bad a Ray machine in the  he said. We need a certain amount of sunlight but repeated excessive exposure can have dangerous effects decades later. The prime decade Lor preventing skin cancer is the first 10 years of Lile Smith said. A child who has been frequently exposed to Sun or sunburned before the age of 10 has a higher risk Lor developing skin cancer As an adult than people who Are exposed to Sun later in life Smith said. Parents should no More allow their children to play unprotected in the Sun than they would allow them to play in Frallic. Especially Lair skinned children said Schoomaker. Who believes his cancer arose from his childhood in the tropics. Children and adults can protect themselves by using a sunscreen with a solar Protection Factor spool at least 15. Slaying out of the Sun Between 11 . And 1  will reduce ultraviolet radiation exposure by 50 percent Schoomaker recommends staying out of the Sun Between. 10 . To 2 . Clothing such As hats and Long sleeves also protect against the Sun s burning rays people who think they Are escaping the dangers of the Sun by going to a tanning Salon Are mistaken Schoomaker sad. Ultraviolet radiation exposure from artificial sources such As Sun lamps or tanning Booths also can cause skin damage and Lead to skin cancer. Dermatologists in the United Stales Are waging a Campaign to inform the Public about the dangers of products labelled Broad spectrum give Best Protection from Sun s ultraviolet rays. Tanning salons similar to the Campaign that put warning labels on cigarette packages. Dermatologists Are unanimous in deploring the use of these machines Smith said. It s a source of great irritation to me that Many of the military sports fitness centers have tanning  the ultraviolet radiation used in tanning Beds is different from and does t Burn the skin like the ultraviolet radiation used in tanning Booths and sunlamps. However this Type of radiation penetrates the skin More deeply damages the skin and May cause skin cancer according to the National cancer Institute. Its Long term effects Are unknown. Ultraviolet radiation irom the Sun and from tanning machines May also damage the body s immune system making it More vulnerable to other forms of cancer and less Able to Light off cancers caused by the Sun Smith said. People at greatest risk for skin cancer arc those with Lair skin that tends to freckle or Burn rather than Tan and those who have red or Blond hair and Blue or Light coloured eyes Schoomaker said. Blacks have a much lower incidence of skin cancer than Whites because they have higher concentrations of Melanin which protects the skin from the effects of ultraviolet radiation. Dark skinned people such As those of Mediterranean descent also have a More effective natural Protection irom the Sun. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma Are the most common of the skin cancers. More than 95 percent of people with these skin cancers Are completely cured according to the National cancer Institute. Basal and squamous cell cancer May Start As a Small smooth shiny Pale or waxy Lump which sometimes bleeds or develops a crust As a hat red spot either scaly and crusty or smooth and shiny or As a firm red Lump. These Are spots that Don t go away but persist the warning signs for malignant Melanoma Are asymmetrical spots on the skin that have irregular Borders color variations or a diameter larger than a Pencil Eraser. People also should go to a doctor if they have moles that change color shape or size or have any change on the skin or a sore that does not heal. The rate of malignant Melanoma has increased rapidly in the last 10 years Smith said adding that one bad sunburn doubles the Chance of developing Melanoma. Chronic Sun exposure lends to Lead to basal or squamous cell cancer he said. Schoomaker stressed the importance of going to a doctor As soon As any of these warning signs Are detected. I really do think my Lile was saved by the fact that i went and got some prompt attention he said. Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday May 23,1989