Summer is here again, bringing the sun’s unforgiving heat. In order to prevent skin cancer, you must take a thorough approach to shield yourself from dangerous UV radiation.
This is because the sun’s UV radiation is harmful and cunning. Even when you try to avoid it, it may penetrate clouds and glass and bounce off of snow, water, and sand, leading to premature aging and skin cancer.
Additionally, sun damage builds up over time through everyday activities like walking the dog, driving to the shop, and getting prolonged outside exposure.
Find out more about skin cancer and how you can avoid it in the sections below.
Understand Skin Cancer
The largest organ in the body is the skin. The epidermis and the dermis are the two primary layers of skin. And the epidermis is where skin cancer starts.
The two most prevalent kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. They both start in the skin’s basal and squamous layers, respectively. Both are typically curable, but treatment can be costly and disfiguring.
The melanocytes are the site of origin for melanoma, the third most prevalent type of skin cancer. Melanoma results in the greatest fatalities due to its propensity to spread to critical organs in the body.
Skin cells can be harmed by UV radiation. Overexposure to UV rays from the sun, tanning beds, or sunlamps is the main factor in the development of skin cancer.
UV deterioration accumulates over time, causing textural changes, early aging, and occasionally skin cancer. Cataracts and other eye disorders have also been linked to UV radiation exposure.
Observe Sun Safety Precautions
It’s vital to protect yourself from UV radiation all year long, not just in the summer. On an overcast and chilly day, UV rays can penetrate your skin and reflect off of things like water, cement, sand, and snow.
Sunlight saving time in the continental United States runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is when UV rays are at their highest (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time).
The UV Index External icon provides a daily forecast of the intensity of UV rays. Avoid overexposing your skin to the sun if your area’s UV index is three or higher.
The CDC offers numerous methods to protect your skin when the UV index is three or higher. Some of them are the following:
- Remain in the shade.
- Be sure to protect your arms and legs with clothing.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your face, head, ears, and neck from the sun.
- Put on wraparound sunglasses that can prevent UVA and UVB radiation.
- Get a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Be Wary of Indoor Tanning
Users who tan indoors are exposed to a lot of UV radiation. Long-term overexposure to UV radiation can result in cataracts, skin cancer, and eye cancer.
Health is not reflected in a tan. When UV rays strike the skin’s inner layer, the skin generates more melanin.
It progresses to the skin’s surface and becomes noticeable as a tan. Any alteration in skin tone following UV exposure, whether it be a burn or a tan, indicates harm rather than health.
Users of indoor tanning are subjected to high UV radiation levels, which are known to cause cancer. It doesn’t offer sunburn protection. Actually, a “base tan” is a sign of skin deterioration.
It might result in severe harm. Every year, more than 3,000 people visit the emergency room due to burns and mishaps from indoor tanning.
Conclusion
You may protect your skin from UV rays from the sun and steer clear of artificial UV exposure sources like sunlamps and tanning beds to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Your chance of developing skin cancer will also be lowered if you regularly use sun protection.
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