You’ve probably heard a lot about sun protection and skin cancer prevention. But since you may be heading for sunny beaches or the swimming pool soon to enjoy sun bathing or to get a tan, you may want to learn a bit more about how sun protection can be critical for your health and your skin. So today, I’ll dive a little deeper into this serious subject.
What is UV radiation and where does exposure take place?
There are three types of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Because UVC rays do not get through our atmosphere, humans are only exposed to UVA and UVB rays, which are dangerous enough to your DNA—the powerhouse of all genetic information in each living cells.
Sunlight is the main source of UV rays. Other sources often include tanning lamps and beds. Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB and causes much more damage than you think because the thinning of ozone layers makes UV rays increasingly more powerful.
How does UV radiation/sunlight enhance skin cancer risk?
UVA rays can penetrate into your deeper skin layers and damage the structural components of your skin, such as connective tissues and blood vessels. This results in the loss of skin elasticity, wrinkling, and premature skin aging. Furthermore, UVA rays cause the development of some skin cancers. UVB rays are a more potent carcinogen because they can directly damage your DNA, leading to sunburn and skin cancer. So, as you see, there is no such a thing of safe UV rays.
How may UV radiation directly damage your DNA? At the molecular level, UV radiation can cause DNA lesions, distort DNA structure by forming bends or twists, and impede DNA repair. Consequently, these impairments to DNA hinder transcription and replication. DNA integrity and stability are essential to one’s life. That’s why direct exposure to UV radiation is harmful.
Two types of skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma) are both linked to sun exposure. The fact that non-melanoma skin cancers (including basal and squamous cell carcinoma) occur more frequent in outdoor than in indoor workers supports the notion that the accumulated life-time exposure to UV radiation plays a significant role in the development of these skin cancers.
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Protect yourself and your children
Excessive sun exposure in children and adolescence sets the stage for the development of skin cancer later in life. Research clearly indicates that the sun exposure of children (< 10 years old) is linked to an increased risk of malignant melanoma and other skin cancers later in life. So, sun protection for kids is crucial!
Next time you are outdoors, make sure to protect yourself and your family (especially young kids) from sun damage. Protective practices include wearing a hat and sunglasses, covering exposed skin with clothing, staying in the shade, and applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to body parts exposed to sun.
Take home message:
Exposure to UV radiation is a major risk factor for most skin cancers. UV rays can damage your DNA and cause skin cancer. Sun protection is your No. 1 defense against skin cancers.
Image credit: By SEPpics