self
Summer is in full swing, and that means many people are spending as much time outdoors as they possibly can, enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps. But with more sunshine and warmer temps comes intensified UV radiation, which can damage our skin and eyes.
Why is Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) so Harmful?
You’ve heard UV rays are bad, but did you know that the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have declared them a carcinogen?
You may also not be aware there are three different types of UV radiation, each emitting a different wavelength:
UVA Radiation: That “A” on the end stands for aging, by the way! UVA has wavelengths between 320 and 400 nm that can penetrate deep layers of the skin. …show more content…
There are thee forms of skin cancer that are the most diagnosed:
• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma
BCC and SCC, the two non-melanomas, account for roughly 3.5 million worldwide skin cancer diagnoses each year. Luckily, these two forms of cancer seldom metastasize and effective treatments have increased over the years.
Melanoma, on the other hand, is a much more dangerous type of skin cancer, resulting in roughly 10,000 deaths each year.
Here’s another frightening fact about melanoma, while BCC and SCC will usually form in an area of the body that has experienced repeated sun exposure, melanoma can be a result from just one really bad sunburn. On top of this, melanoma is also different because it can metastasize and spread throughout the body.
So how exactly does ultraviolet radiation cause skin cancer?
As I mentioned a bit earlier in this report, UV radiation can cause our skin cells to mutate. The high energy waves actually damage the chromosomes in our DNA. One common mutation that occurs is the alteration of the chromosome that codes for a specific tumor suppressor gene. These genes are incredibly important in regulating the cell cycle and damage may result in uncontrolled cell division and the formation of …show more content…
Once this flexibility starts to decrease, our skin starts to sag because it can no longer “snap back” when pulled or stretched. This is why when many of us that are of a “certain age” wake up in the morning, we have lines on our faces from the pillow case, and these lines can take hours to finally fade.
How to Protect Yourself from UV Radiation Exposure
Now that you understand the risks of too much sun exposure, let’s look at some practical ways you can protect yourself from the dangers of harmful UV rays:
1. Cover Up
In summer months it’s common to see people wearing as little clothing as possible. But all of this exposed skin is being exposed to UV radiation. When you know you will be outside for prolonged amounts of time, particularly in the early afternoon when the sun’s rays are strongest, be sure to cover up and wear tightly-woven clothing that blocks out sunlight.
2. Wear a Hat
Though a baseball cap will help shield part of your face from sunlight, a wide brim hat is a much better options because it will protect your neck, ears, forehead, nose and scalp.
3. Wear Sunglasses with UV-Absorbent
Summer is in full swing, and that means many people are spending as much time outdoors as they possibly can, enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps. But with more sunshine and warmer temps comes intensified UV radiation, which can damage our skin and eyes.
Why is Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) so Harmful?
You’ve heard UV rays are bad, but did you know that the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have declared them a carcinogen?
You may also not be aware there are three different types of UV radiation, each emitting a different wavelength:
UVA Radiation: That “A” on the end stands for aging, by the way! UVA has wavelengths between 320 and 400 nm that can penetrate deep layers of the skin. …show more content…
There are thee forms of skin cancer that are the most diagnosed:
• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma
BCC and SCC, the two non-melanomas, account for roughly 3.5 million worldwide skin cancer diagnoses each year. Luckily, these two forms of cancer seldom metastasize and effective treatments have increased over the years.
Melanoma, on the other hand, is a much more dangerous type of skin cancer, resulting in roughly 10,000 deaths each year.
Here’s another frightening fact about melanoma, while BCC and SCC will usually form in an area of the body that has experienced repeated sun exposure, melanoma can be a result from just one really bad sunburn. On top of this, melanoma is also different because it can metastasize and spread throughout the body.
So how exactly does ultraviolet radiation cause skin cancer?
As I mentioned a bit earlier in this report, UV radiation can cause our skin cells to mutate. The high energy waves actually damage the chromosomes in our DNA. One common mutation that occurs is the alteration of the chromosome that codes for a specific tumor suppressor gene. These genes are incredibly important in regulating the cell cycle and damage may result in uncontrolled cell division and the formation of …show more content…
Once this flexibility starts to decrease, our skin starts to sag because it can no longer “snap back” when pulled or stretched. This is why when many of us that are of a “certain age” wake up in the morning, we have lines on our faces from the pillow case, and these lines can take hours to finally fade.
How to Protect Yourself from UV Radiation Exposure
Now that you understand the risks of too much sun exposure, let’s look at some practical ways you can protect yourself from the dangers of harmful UV rays:
1. Cover Up
In summer months it’s common to see people wearing as little clothing as possible. But all of this exposed skin is being exposed to UV radiation. When you know you will be outside for prolonged amounts of time, particularly in the early afternoon when the sun’s rays are strongest, be sure to cover up and wear tightly-woven clothing that blocks out sunlight.
2. Wear a Hat
Though a baseball cap will help shield part of your face from sunlight, a wide brim hat is a much better options because it will protect your neck, ears, forehead, nose and scalp.
3. Wear Sunglasses with UV-Absorbent