Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light for an extended period of time is one of the most important risk factors for developing skin cancer. To reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, the first and most crucial measure you can take is to educate yourself about how ultraviolet (UV rays) radiation may harm your skin.
The good news is that you can significantly lessen the risk that is offered by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. You can accomplish both by engaging in activities outside while reducing your likelihood of developing skin cancer with certain simple and astute precautions.
What Are UV Rays?
A portion of the light that the sun gives to Earth is in the ultraviolet range; this is non-ionizing, electromagnetic radiation. Ultraviolet radiation cannot be seen by the naked eye and does not cause the skin to burn. This means that you may not realize that you are being exposed to radiation until it is too late.
Ozone, carbon dioxide, and water vapor in the atmosphere absorb most of the sun’s UV rays. Sunlight reaches us with mostly UVA and some UVB.
Tanning beds, mercury vapor lamps, and some halogen, fluorescent, incandescent, and other light sources, etc., are all artificial sources of UV radiation, in addition to the sun.
Premature aging of the skin, the development of wrinkles and age spots, the dryness of the skin, etc., may all be caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation. When your skin has been overexposed to UV rays for an extended period of time, its defenses are less able to ward off harmful invaders.
Types of UV Rays
3 forms of UV lights have been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer:
- Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength. It is associated with skin aging.
- Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength. It is associated with skin burning.
- Ultraviolet C (UVC). harms the skin’s topmost layer of cells.
Both ultraviolet A, B, and C rays are harmful to the skin; however, the former causes more severe damage than the latter. Unprotected exposure to UVA, UVB, and UVC rays causes DNA damage in skin cells, which may result in genetic flaws, often known as mutations. These mutations increase the risk of developing skin cancer and aging prematurely. Damage to the eyes, such as cataracts and malignancies of the eyelids, may also be caused by UV radiation.
UVA Facts & Risks
Tanning is caused by UVA radiation, whereas UVA photons cause sunburn with shorter wavelengths. Tans are never healthful or risk-free. The link between UVA radiation and skin cancer is well established.
Sunscreens with “broad-spectrum protection” on the label also protect against UVA rays. Sunscreens used to solely shield your skin from UVB rays, but when the dangers of UVA rays became apparent, new substances were added to broaden the spectrum of protection.
Although not as powerful as UVB, UVA rays may penetrate deeper into the skin. The most common kind of skin cancer begins in the deepest layer of skin on your body because of genetic damage caused by sun exposure. A tan is the skin’s protective response to sun exposure. Premature aging and skin cancer are two additional long-term effects of UVA exposure.
Most tanning beds emit UVA radiation, which is the primary kind of light employed in them. Once considered risk-free, we now know otherwise.
We must avoid UVA’s pervasiveness. Up to 95% of all UV light that reaches Earth is UVA. The intensity of these rays throughout the day remains constant throughout the year. This implies that everyone is exposed to a substantial amount of ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation.
UVA rays can go through glass and clouds.
UVB Facts & Risks
The superficial layers of your skin are penetrable and vulnerable to harm from UVB. A suntan, sunburn, and, in extreme situations, blistering may result from overexposure to the sun.
On labeling sunscreen products, the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is shown to have a connection to UVB. While you compare the amount of time it would take for the sun’s radiation, which includes some of the UVA rays, to redden your skin when using that product with the amount of time it would take when not wearing sunscreen, the SPF number provides this information.
The intensity of UVB varies throughout time. Even though the sun’s rays are at their strongest and pose the greatest risk from late morning to mid-afternoon from spring to fall in temperate climates and even longer timespans in tropical climates, UVB rays can damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes or on reflective surfaces like snow or ice. Even though the sun’s rays are at their strongest and pose the greatest risk from late morning to mid-afternoon from spring to fall in temperate climates
UVB rays can be blocked out and are unable to pass through glass.
UVC Facts & Risks
UVC is the wavelength that receives the least amount of attention, yet it has the potential to damage the skin’s most superficial and outermost cells. Redness, ulcers, and severe burns are some of the symptoms that appear in the short term. It is possible that, over time, it may cause skin cancer and accelerated aging, although these effects are not often seen since the causes are not frequently encountered.
UV Rays Protection Tips
Excessive sun exposure has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer and other skin harm. This means you need to protect yourself from the sun before going outside.
Stay out of the sun
If the UV index is expected to be high, avoid or restrict your time outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Remember that ultraviolet (UV) radiation may penetrate clouds; therefore, sunblock is always recommended even while you are in the shade.
Use Sunscreen
If you really must go out in the sun, be sure to protect your skin with a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen cream or lotion with an SPF of at least 30. You should put on the sunscreen at least half an hour before leaving the house, and you should not forget to reapply it after you come out of the water or if you have been sweating heavily.
Fully cover-up
Always try to cover as much of your skin as possible from the sun by donning long sleeves and thicker materials in your clothing. To further protect your face and eyes from the sun’s rays, wear a hat with a broad brim, sunglasses or eyeglasses that include UV filters, and apply sunscreen.
Avoid Tanning Salons
UVC rays are the most damaging kind of UV rays, and tanning beds and sun lamps may be sources of UVC. Therefore, the best way to protect your skin and eyes from being harmed is to steer clear of them completely.
Keep Your Child Protected
You should take extra precautions to limit the amount of ultraviolet light that young children are exposed to. Children are in a constantly shifting stage of development, and environmental stressors, such as exposure to ultraviolet light, may impact their growth.
Wisely dress up
Wear long-sleeved shirts or skirts while going outside to protect your skin from the sun’s rays. Wearing dark colors is preferable since they block the sun’s beams more.
The Last Word
Radiation from the sun that travels across space and strikes the earth’s surface includes ultraviolet (UV) rays. According to their wavelengths, ultraviolet (UV) photons may be broken down into a few distinct categories. On the other hand, damage to your skin is most often caused by the ultraviolet light of the UVA and UVB varieties. Both their ability to penetrate your skin and their impact on it are variable. Even though it is impossible to totally escape the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiations, you may protect yourself from their harmful effects by taking the necessary safety measures.
