With 100,000 cases of skin cancer as a result of overexposure to UV rays in Britain every year, we are all too aware of the dangers of too much sun, but a recent study shows that damage to skin cells continues for hours after spending time in the sun. The research, carried out by researchers form Yale University School of Medicine in the US and published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Science Magazine, monitored skin cells to reveal that UV rays can continue to damage skin cells hours after sun exposure. UV rays are invisible to the naked eye, but are the main cause of the sun’s damaging effects on the skin. UV rays damage the DNA of skin cells, and skin cancers start when this damage affects the DNA of genes that control skin cell growth.
SEE ALSO: Debunking the myths about sun safety
Protect your skin
The National Institute for Health and Care excellence (NICE) has released new guidelines about sun exposure, warning that there is no ‘safe’ way to suntan, but also stressing the importance of moderate sun exposure to ensure we get enough vitamin D (about 10-15 minutes is sufficient for light-skinned people). When spending time outside in the sun, many of us don’t apply enough sunscreen. The amount of sunscreen needed for an adult is around six to eight teaspoons of lotion, and to be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure, and again just before you go out. Sunscreen should be applied liberally, and reapplied frequently (even ‘water-resistant’ types). Try to avoid being outside between 11am – 3pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
Protect your eyes
Protecting our eyes from UV radiation is just as important as protecting our skin. UV radiation not only damages the skin of the eyelid but also the cornea, lens and other parts of the eye. UV exposure contributes to the development of types of cataracts and possibly macular degeneration. Safe-guard your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing suitable sunglasses— look for UV-protection details on product labels and opt for a pair that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
Remember that the colour of the lenses doesn’t affect the ability to block UV rays, so choosing the pair with the darkest lenses doesn’t necessarily mean higher protection and can actually cause more damage as our pupils control how much light gets into the back of our eyes, and by wearing darkened lenses, our pupils open wider to let more light in. If you’re sunglasses aren’t rated to block UV rays, you could be letting in more UV light into the back of your eye.
An ill-fitting pair of sunglasses can also be damaging, as UV rays can seep onto your skin and into your eyes. The ideal fit should line up with your brow, and shouldn’t be too close to your eyes (touching your eyelashes) or too far down your nose.
See also: Health Benefits of Cruises
Main types of UV rays
UVA rays age skin cells and can damage their DNA. These rays are linked to long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles, but they’re also thought to contribute to some skin cancers. Many tanning beds emit large amounts of UVA, which can increase the risk of skin cancer.
UVB rays have slightly more energy than UVA rays. They can damage skin cells’ DNA directly, and are the main rays that cause sunburns. They are also thought to cause the majority of skin cancers.
UVC rays have more energy than other types of UV rays, but they don’t get through our atmosphere and are not in sunlight. They are not usually a cause of skin cancer.
UV Index
The UV Index is given daily for regions throughout the country. Many newspaper, television, online, and smartphone weather forecasts include the projected UV Index. Further information about the UV Index, as well as your local UV Index forecast, can be found on the EPA’s website at epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html. As with any forecast, local changes in cloud cover and other factors could change the actual UV levels experienced.
‘I’m a two-time skin cancer survivor,’ says Dr Chris
‘I’ve had skin cancer twice, once on my face and back, too. Back in the ’70s, when we didn’t know that skin cancer was caused by the sun, I used to have a sunbed and lie on it everyday and then we’d go on holiday and I’d top up my tan. I was always very deeply tanned in those days. One day I was shaving and noticed something on my cheek and it turned out to be skin cancer. I decided to remove the tumour on the ITV’s This Morning show—it’s the best way to show viewers what it looks like and what the procedure to remove it involves. It was the size of a 50 pence piece. Then, a couple of years later, my wife (who is a nurse) said to me: “you’ve got a mark on your back like the one on your face.” I got it checked out and removed. I was lucky because out of the three types of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, I had basal cell carcinoma which is the most treatable and least threatening.’
READ MORE: How to prevent skin cancer
