Protecting your Skin from the Sun
Why should you protect your skin from the sun? Here
are the reasons why we should avoid basking in the sun too much.
The sun’s rays can be very harmful to our skin.
Although sunlight is actually beneficial in treating skin diseases,
over exposure to the sun can cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, skin
texture changes, dilated blood vessels, and skin cancers. It may also
cause rash problems.
The ultra violet radiation (UVR) in sunlight is very
harmful. Although, UVR mainly affects our skin and eyes and does not
get very far inside our bodies it can severely damage us. The most
serious effect of sunlight in our skin is the generation of cancer,
the most serious of which is called melanoma.
Skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer nowadays.
In the United Kingdom alone, there are at least 100,000 new cases
of skin cancer annually.
Most skin cancers are linked to sunburn or prolonged
exposure to the sun. Skin cells are damaged by the electromagnetic
radiation that makes up sunshine (this is different from the radiation
associated with nuclear energy).
The dangerous rays contain UV radiation. This comes
in three types: UVA, UVB and UVC. UV radiation can penetrate deep
into our cells and cause gene damage, the trigger for cancer.
In the United States, more than one million cases
of non- melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed every year. Meanwhile,
melanoma skin cancer represents only four percent of all skin cancers,
but accounts for more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths.
People most at risk of skin cancer are those with
large numbers of moles or fair or freckled skin, and particularly
those with light colored eyes and fair or red hair. People with this
skin type also tend to burn before they tan. People with dark skin
that tans easily are less at risk. People with black, Asian and Mediterranean
complexions are least at risk.
It is in this regard that health experts and medical
practitioners alike are encouraging us to protect ourselves against
the sun. Here are four simple ways that we can do so:
1. Stay away from the sun especially
in the middle of the day (approximately from 10 a.m. to four p.m.)
when the sun is at its hottest.
2. Block. Use sunscreen lotions or
those with Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Using SPF 15 or higher is
recommended.
3. Cover up. Hats, sunglasses, sun
visors and protective clothing will provide effective barrier to sunlight.
4. Speak out. Help promote awareness
regarding sun protection and the dangers of too much sunlight.
So next time you wanted to ride the hype of
sunbathing and tanning, remember that no amount of beauty can compensate
for your life.
Contains an encapsulated form of invisible micronized
zinc oxide for the ultimate broad-spectrum protection. Antioxidant
Vitamins C and E add a healthy dose of photo aging prevention as they
protect and heal.
