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Why and How to Protect your Skin from the Sun

By Joy Healey

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Published: 17Aug2008
Word count: 1006
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Yes, enjoying a sunny day on the beach is fun. However, going out without proper skin protection is putting yourself at risk of skin diseases, one of which is the dreaded skin cancer.

Like most parts of our body, skin can develop cancer. Cancer is a result of an uncontrolled cell growth in one part of the body.

Unlike normal cells which are programmed to divide, grow, and die at a certain time, cancer cells lack the internal machinery to control growth and as a result cause severe damage to normal cells that will be outnumbered along the process in a certain biological locality. Some cells even detach from their point of origin and travel to other parts of the body to start a new colony of cancer cells.

Skin cancers are either melanoma or non-melanoma cancers. Non-melanomas are cancers which arise from skin cells other than melanocyte cells. Melanomas are cancerous melanocyte cells that produce melanin, a pigment that gives the skin its characteristic color.

The sun is one of the key enemies of the skin. Although sunlight helps the skin synthesize vitamin D (cholecalciferol), excessive and prolonged exposure to the sun causes damage and wrinkling.

How does the sun cause such damage? Sunlight that passes through earth is composed of visible light and ultraviolet light (UV). UVA and UVB Light are one of the most common ultraviolet lights. UV lights falls outside the visible light spectrum, meaning, the human eye cannot see this type of light and can only be seen using a sophisticated tool which detects different light wavelength across the light spectrum.

The difference between the two UV light lies in their ability to damage skin cells. UVB light doesn't get through the deeper layer of the skin and accounts for visible burns and DNA damage across the top layer of the skin.

UVA light, on the other hand, penetrates through the deeper layer of the skin and activates free radicals (very reactive substances), which cause small damages to the skin. Cumulative damage accounts for the skin's premature aging.

So to maintain the healthy, youthful glow of one's skin, it is helpful to understand how the bad effects of the sun's ultraviolet or UV rays come into action.

The UV-A and UV-B rays penetrate clouds, thick layers of glass, a meter of water, and the layers of the skin. UV-B makes the skin's top layers to release chemicals that permit the blood vessels' expansion and cause some fluid to leak, resulting to inflammation, pain and redness known as sunburn. This damage can occur within as little as 15 minutes and can continue to worsen for up to 72 hours after sun exposure. The damaged skin cells in the process will die and "molt off" in sheets or pictures. Peeling is the process in which the body disposes of dead skin cells. UV-A rays are those that get into the deeper layers of the skin. This affects the living skin cells under the surface of the skin. These rays not only bring about long-term damage such as sagging, wrinkles and discoloration, they also pave the way for early stages of skin cancer.

The UV rays act like chain saws, shredding deep into the DNA (the genetic material, with a very precise structure, specific order and specific coding) found within the cell nuclei. Repair enzymes within the cell act by countering the damage done on the DNA chain in the shortest time possible. This damage and repair happens simultaneously and continuously, ideally keeping up with the extent of the damage inflicted.

But just like any other bodily mechanism, these repair enzymes have their limits and can reach a point after which they can no longer work. When the damage is too much (which occurs even before the skin turns red), the enzymes cannot cope. The result is a dismantled DNA structure which leads to abnormality of skin cells or what is termed as mutation. This is the first step of the formation of cancer cells. UV-rays also contribute to the formation of superoxides, which are extremely toxic chemicals that speed up skin cell aging.

So who exactly is most at risk of developing skin cancer? People who have already experienced three or more bad cases of sunburn before reaching the age of twenty and regular sunbathers have greater risks of contracting melanoma. Cricketers, farmers, golf players and others, who have long exposure to the sun, have more tendencies to have milder forms of skin cancer. If you are in one of these groups, take particular care.

After learning how the skin reacts to sunlight here is some information on preventing its harmful effects.

To reduce your risk of skin-cancer, dermatologists strongly advise the use of good quality sunscreens.

Research shows that exposure to sunlight without sunscreen should be less than 10 to 15 minutes at noon, when the sun is at its strongest. Using a sunscreen with an SPF or sun protection of at least 15 and even higher is recommended. People with sensitive skin, such as babies, and older adults should use an SPF of 30 or stronger because their skin tends to burn more easily. People with allergies or sensitive skin should also take note of the ingredients they contain and choose products that are free of chemicals, dyes, preservatives, and alcohol.

If sun exposure will be particularly high, use a stronger sunscreen that will completely block sunlight from reaching the skin. Sunscreen application should be about half an hour before exposure to the sun and the product should be reapplied every few hours; particularly during and after swimming, as 98 percent of the sun's rays can pass through water.

Remember, however good your skin-care product is, you should never assume that it has sun protecting abilities unless the label confirms this. If in any doubt, use a product specifically mentioning an SPF rating.

With proper care, you can still enjoy the sun and the benefits of a healthy skin.

Joy Healey qualified as a nutritionist in 2000, at the prestigious Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London. Read about other aspects of skin care by downloading a free ebook at: http://www.nutrition4all.co.uk/skin.html

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