How Harmful is UV Rays to Our Skin? By A Nutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

When spring arrives, we all want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. When summer is just around the corner, we look forward to going to the beach, swimming, and participating in a wide variety of outdoor activities. The result of spending so much time outdoors is that we are increasingly exposed to the sun's UV rays. This exposure can cause serious harm to our skin if we do not protect it.

It is essential to protect our skin starting at an early age because overexposure to harmful UV rays can take years to develop into skin cancer cells. Ultraviolet has a high frequency and therefore more energy which can be more hazardous. The more energetic a ray of light is, the more that light will break the skin molecules apart thereby damaging the cells. When these rays break through to the nuclei of skin cells and damage DNA, the likelihood of the development skin cancer increases.

There are three types of ultraviolet light as it relates to protecting the skin. They are UVA, UVB, and UVC. Although UVC is the most damaging of the rays, it is totally blocked out by the Earth's atmosphere. UVB is the wavelength that causes the most sun damage on skin. UVB rays are more likely than UVA rays to cause sunburn, but UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin. Scientists now think that UVA radiation may increase skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and cause premature aging.

UV rays can penetrate the clouds and are at their highest during late spring and early summer. They are also at their most dangerous from mid-morning to late afternoon, and will cause serious skin damage. The sun and the UV rays can damage your skin within fifteen minutes of exposure. To protect your skin from UV damage, you should apply a sunscreen lotion before you are exposed to the sun.

Sunscreens lotions work by deflecting the UV sunlight or dispersing it. It is recommended that you use at least a 15 SPF (Sun Protective Factor) sunscreen. Your eyes can be affected by the UV rays too. You should protect your eyes with sunglasses that indicate that they block UV rays. Reapply sunscreen lotion often. You should wear a waterproof sunscreen. As well, your lips have very fragile skin and can be seriously damaged by exposure to UV rays. You should apply a lip balm that has a sunscreen in it.

Your skin is the most exposed organ of the body. UV rays can do serious damage to the skin if left unprotected. For best protection, acquire a sunscreen product that is resistant to both UVA and UVB rays. As well, wear a hat that has a wide brim to provide shade for your face. If you do see an unusual change in your skin, see your doctor. Because our skin is valuable to our physical state of well-being, we need to take good care of it.

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