A photograph is truly worth a thousand words especially when it is a UV reflectance photo!
OMG, that’s frightening! Our motto is to prevent skin cancer one child at a time and not to make the sun the enemy. However, UV reflectance photography provides a powerful personal snapshot of pigment change related to sun exposure. Because the camera system shows melanin deposits not visible to the naked eye it raises awareness about sun damage and the importance of sun protection.
For over a decade, we have used UV reflectance photography in our SunAWARE Program to educate children about skin cancer prevention. Children can clearly visualize their own skin and determine if they have sun damage. We remind children that they are not born with freckles but rather a genetic predisposition to develop freckling. We stress that melanin deposits develop at sites of excess sun exposure. Younger children are taught that they need to give extra special attention to all areas where they have freckles. With older children, we educate them that freckles are a sign of sun damage and imparts an increased risk for skin cancer. We use this technology to drive home the importance of sun protection. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and shade protect the skin and prevent further damage.
Our System
Our very affordable and effective camera systems includes a newer model DSLR reflex camera adapted for UV reflectance photography by Life Pixel. We use the video mode for the demonstration and mount an 8-inch monitor on the hot shoe for enhanced viewing. Outdoors direct sunlight provides enough UV for imaging. For indoor programs, we use black lights for our UV light source. They are available online or at party stores. The black lights work by eliminating visible light while transmitting UV light. We position the black lights on either side of the subject.
Another benefit to UV reflectance photography is that it allows us to demonstrate proper sunscreen application. Chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays they appear black on the skin. We provide the child with sunscreen and ask them to apply it and then evaluate their application. We then ask them to look in the camera to see if they have missed any spots. Areas along the hairline, around the eyes, or rims of ears are common spots that people miss when applying sunscreen. We also demonstrate that sunscreens with physical blockers, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide makes their skin look lighter because they work by reflecting UV radiation away from the skin.
With skin cancer increasing faster than any other cancer in the U.S. and one person dying every hour from the disease, our hope is that we can provide children and the people who care for them with a simple lesson about personal risk and proper sun protection.
Latest articles by Maryellen Maguire-Eisen (see all articles)
- OMG, That’s Frightening! - December 12, 2016
Maryellen Maguire-Eisen
Maryellen Maguire-Eisen RN, MSN
Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation
www.melanomaprevention.org
See All Articles by Maryellen Maguire-Eisen
Hi, Which uv-bandpass filter are you using? A friend of mine has skin cancer, would that show in the photo’s? And what would that look like?
Keep up the great work you do!
Olaf Boender
The Netherlands
Hi Olaf, Our UV bandpass filters are custom made and are comprised of a fused silica substrate that are externally coated and have a transmittance of over 99% from 360-400nm. Essentially, people look like the people in the video in the link below with one of our UV conversions so it shows skin damage very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BqrSAHbTc