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SUN DAMAGETHE EFFECTS OF EXTENSIVE SUN EXPOSURE TO THE SKIN
Sun damage to the skin occurs when there is continuous exposure to the sun without the use of proper sun protection. The damages caused by the sun do not appear until 10 to 20 years later. The dangers of too much sun on the skin are not fully appreciated by many people. Hence the lax attitude adopted towards sun protection. However the consequences of sun damage are many and they include wrinkles, sun spots and even the life-threatening skin cancer. In places where the beach culture is particularly strong, the sun damage has lead to a rise in death rate from melanoma (cancerous mole). Changing our attitude towards tanning is more becoming more urgent now. The depletion of the earth’s ozone layer means that we’re getting much more sunlight. Sun protection is extremely essential as long as we are going out into the sun. Otherwise we will suffer from the consequences of sun damage arising from continuous exposure to the sun. Do you want to see how much damage the sun has caused your skin? Take a look at the skin on the inside of your upper arm, which is shaded from the sun. Compare that with the skin the outer part of your forearm which is exposed to the sun. Just see for yourself the difference. Your skin would have been in a better condition if you have been practicing sun protection from an early age. That would have reduce the sun damage that the skin has suffered. ULTRAVIOLET RAYS The ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun are filtered by the ozone layer so that only visible light, some UV-A and UV-B, reached the earth’s surface. Due to the depletion of the ozone layer, more UV rays are reaching the earth now. This is one reason for an increase in the number of cases of skin cancers. We should practice sun protection in our normal daily life. Sun screens are not reserved for the beach alone. UV-B rays are short wavelength rays that penetrate the top layers of the skin and cause sunburn. Hence, they are also called “burning rays”. UV-A rays, on the other hand, take much longer to burn and produce a tan. Hence, they are known as “tanning rays”. In the past, it was thought that sun protection could be achieved by screening out UV-B rays. Since the UV-A rays were not screened out, one could obtain a tan without getting sunburn. This was a false assumption, a myth. Recent studies suggest that UV-A rays cause even more sun damage because they penetrate deeper into the dermis. Doctors now believe that it is the shorter UV-A that is largely responsible for damaging the collagen and elastin fibres. This reduces the elasticity and the firmness of the skin. It is important not to equate sun damage with sunburn. Unlike UV-B, UV-A does not immediately burn the skin. However, it causes more sun damage as it is able to penetrate deeper into the skin. Even if you are dark-complexioned and do not sunburn easily, you can still develop the other signs of photo ageing (sun-induced ageing) such as pigmentation and age spots (solar lengtigines).
SUN PROTECTION IS FOR EVERYBODY
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Fitzpatrick Skin Type |
Reaction | Characteristics |
| I |
Always burns Never tans (Sensitive) |
Very white or freckled E.g. Celtic, Irish |
| II |
Always burns Tans minimally (Sensitive) |
White E.g. Caucasian |
| III |
Sometimes burns Always tan (Normal) |
White to olive E.g. Darker Caucasian, Meditarranean |
| IV |
Rarely burns Always tans (Normal) |
Moderate brown skin E.g. Fair Asian, Hispanic |
| V |
Rarely burns Tans easily and profusely (Insensitive) |
Dark brown skin E.g. American Indian, Hispanic, Dark Asian, Middle Eastern |
| VI |
Never burns (Insensitive) |
Black skin E.g. Blacks and Southern Indians |
The risk of developing skin cancer increases several times with intense sun exposure.
The risk of developing skin cancer by the age 70 is about 2 – 3 percent for an indoor person. This is increased 5 times after a two-week sunbathing vacation. It is increased 10 – 20 times after a 4-week sunbathing vacation.
Doctors can help you to reverse some of the sun damage but the most effective remedy is actually sun prevention. This means it is necessary to use sun protection measures religiously.
Have you been taking sun protection measures? If not, start now.
Looking for some sunscreen before you go for that vacation? Click here
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Skin Aging » Skin Changes » Sun Protection » Tanning Tips |
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CAUTION
Are you are new to a particular skin care product? Always buy a small quantity to try out and test it on a small patch of skin first. A particular brand may work wonders for your best friend, but have a different result with your skin. Different people may have different reactions to different products. |
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