With spring break coming up and summer on the way increased UV and sun exposure are inevitable to many. It is important to understand the effects caused by overexposure to the sun in order to stay safe while enjoying your tropical vacation.
High UV ranges form around 6-7 while intense UV begins at 8+. Entering high UV areas unprotected can be very dangerous in many ways causing short and long-term effects. Although a slight sunburn may not seem harmful, in the long run, the high UV rays can damage the DNA in our skin cells causing possible skin cancer.
As someone who has experience with extreme sunburn, I can attest it is not worth going into the sun unprotected. I was bedridden for multiple days on my vacation unable to leave my room and do fun things with my friends. I experienced second-degree burns, sun poisoning, and heavy blistering on parts of my body which put me in excruciating pain.
To help a sunburn, the CDC recommends drinking water to rehydrate, applying a moisturizing cream or aloe, and taking aspirin to relieve pain.Not only are the short-term effects of a sunburn annoying and painful, but the long-term effects can be life-threatening.
One of the life-threatening effects of unprotected time in the sun is skin cancer. The most common skin cancers include carcinoma skin cancers and melanoma. According to the CDC, some indicators of skin cancer are irregular or painful moles, lumps in the skin, or sores that do not heal.
Additionally, after spending prolonged periods of time in the sun, you may start to age quicker as well. Sun exposure is the most common cause of wrinkles and aging. It causes elastin fibers in the skin to be damaged promoting more fine lines.
Some ways to prevent harmful exposure to UV rays include wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Anything lower than 30 may not block out all the harmful rays. You should also consider wearing sunglasses and hats to protect your face and eyes, as well as clothing such as rash guards, long sleeves, or long pants.
It is important to understand the negative effects of being exposed to high UV rays especially with the winter months coming to a close. Make sure to apply your sunscreen and don’t get fried!
