Have the effects of UV radiation on your skin crossed your mind lately? Find out more about premature aging, skin cancer, skin cancer prevention, and the UV index.
Have the effects of UV radiation on your skin crossed your mind lately when you walk out your front door? Probably not, but there are a few things about UV radiation that you should keep in mind.
Premature Aging:
An obvious result of UV radiation on your skin is premature aging. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that most of the wrinkles and brown spots we see on our faces -- up to 90% of them -- are not actually age related, but are caused directly by sun exposure.
Sunburn – A Serious Skin Cancer Risk:
Another result of sun exposure that is plain to see is sunburn. Sunburns cause discomfort, but more importantly, they carry with them an increased risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. One out of five Americans will face skin cancer at some point, and skin cancer kills one American every hour, according to the EPA. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently released findings showing that during every year of a three-year study, nearly one-third of the adult U.S. population had reported suffering at least one sunburn during the previous year. This illustrates an enormous lack of awareness of the dangers of UV exposure.
It is true that darker skinned people are less likely to sunburn and have a lower risk of skin cancer than fair skinned people. They are not immune, however. Furthermore, the relationship between color and UV protection does not spill over to acquired skin color. Tanning, whether by sun or by bulb, is damaging to the skin. With all of this in mind, it is sensible to protect your skin from UV exposure.
The UV Index:
The UV index is a tool that informs the general public of the level of ultraviolet radiation exposure to expect in any given location. It is readily available to most everyone, as many weather forecasters include this information in their reporting, both on television and in newspapers. Find Your UV index here.
Some easy ways to protect yourself:
- · Stay out of the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- · Cover up –- wear long sleeves, hats and sunglasses
- · Wear sunscreen daily
- · Avoid tanning salons
Suggested Reading:
Sources:
MMWR Weekly, June 1, 2007 / 56(21); 524-528
The UV Index Is Changing, United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA430-F-04-020 May 2004.
