Sun damaged skin, cancer risk?

Yes, it’s true, a little bit of sun is good! It gives that ‘healthy glow’. However, it’s also good for your health … in moderation! But, if you over do it you can cause sun damaged to skin that can later develop CANCER!

Did you know that it also provides the essential vitamin D that are bodies need to properly absorb calcium for strong bones as well as muscle health (this includes the heart)?

What’s more, you may not know the amount of sun exposure needed to get enough vitamin D can be as little as 15 minutes depending on skin tone.

For example, this can be done walking to the mailbox, back and forth to our cars or across a parking lot. Fortunately, research is ongoing on what is the proper balance of sun exposure for optimum health and safety.

What damaged skin looks like

Sadly, too much sun can not only cause a painful sunburn but it’s extremely damaging. Repeated, long periods of unprotected sun exposure can lead to damaged skin that can go beyond the surface. This can eventually cause skin cancer.

Besides that, many people don’t consider is that our eyes need just as much protection. Prolonged sun exposure without proper eyewear to protect against UVA & UVB rays can lead to scarring of the cornea, cataracts in later years.

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Ultraviolet Rays

Just remember, it only takes few minutes a day to get your needed vitamin D. Therefore, proper protection from UVR (ultraviolet radiation: UVA & UVB) is a must: sunscreen as well as eyewear.

Some people question the safety of the chemicals used in commercial sunscreens. Studies have been conducted over the past several years with no evidence of any adverse side effects to these chemicals but vast benefits to their protective qualities.

What new developments have come from this ongoing research? Most importantly, new regulations for sunscreen labeling and testing was set forth in 2011.

UVA and UVB differ in quality and effect on the body. However, UVB rays makes up about 5% of UVR. And is also is more intense and damaging with a higher risk for causing sunburn and even DNA changes.

Sun damaged skin can be deeper than you think!

Well, it sounds like it would be a good thing: UVA accounts for 95% of total UV rays. I mean, it is less likely to cause sunburn, right? However, it also penetrates the skin much deeper causing the tanning effect and can cause more biological effects! Yikes!

Whether UVA or UVB, they can all cause cell changes. In fact. The risk of cancer increases even if exposure doesn’t result in sunburn. Because of this there’s been a lot of research done on sun exposure and sunscreen protection.

Did you know, not all sunscreens are the same? Sun protection is available in different SPF (Sun Protection Factor), some protect against UVA, some against UVB and those called “broad spectrum” protect against both.

Fortunately, labeling guidelines were established in 2011. They require specific criteria to be met in order to make certain claims of coverage.

Prevent skin cancer with sunscreen

So, basically, SPF numbers come from a math equation. Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do any math here! Really, what these numbers tell you is how much longer you can soak up the rays before your skin turns red! It’s important not to ignore that red glow! Sun damaged skin can show up years later as splotchy spots or even … the C word!

Whether it’s sea or sweat, you should ask about water resistance. This means that your sunscreen keeps protecting after 40 minutes of being in the water. Very water resistant would call for 80 minutes.

In other words, an SPF of 10 would take 10 times the baseline to make your skin red; SPF 20 would take 20 times, SPF 30 would take 30 times and so on.

Did you know, that broad spectrum is the most recommended? What makes it ‘broad’ is based on the amount of time it takes to darken the skin. Definitely, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it frequently.

Skin damage and cancer prevention in a nutshell

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