The More You Know---
July is a great time to think about UV and Sun Safety!
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. While it has some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can cause health risks.
Benefits
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food and assists bone development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2 to 3 times a week.
Risks
Sunburn is a painful effect of too much sun exposure that causes inflamed, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. Prolonged exposure to the sun and repeated sunburns can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. UV exposure increases the risk of potentially blinding eye diseases if eye protection is not used.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Typically, they form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms because these body parts are the most exposed to UV radiation. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to UV radiation.
Anyone can have harmful health effects from UV radiation, but the risks increase in people who:
- Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned.
- Have light-color skin, hair, and eyes.
- Are take some types of oral and topical medicines, such as antibiotics, birth control pills, and benzoyl peroxide products, as well as some cosmetics, may increase skin and eye sensitivity to UV in all skin types.
- Have a family member with skin cancer.
- Are over age 50.
To protect yourself from UV radiation:
- Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours.
- Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs.
- Consider options to protect your children.
- Wear a wide brim hat to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher, for both UVA and UVB protection.
- Avoid indoor tanning. Indoor tanning is particularly dangerous for younger users; people who begin indoor tanning during adolescence or early adulthood have a higher risk of developing melanoma.
Resources:
CDC National Center for Environmental Health
Inspirational Quote
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
- Margaret Thatcher
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