There are two main types of UV radiation that we are exposed to. UVA rays and UVB rays. Overexposure to UVB rays can cause sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) and can damage your immune system.
Tanning is your body’s natural reaction that occurs when your skin is exposed to the sun and UV radiation. When you tan, your body produces more melanin, a chemical within your skin. This forms a layer – the tan – to protect the skin. Tanning blocks some of the radiation, but it is not adequate protection against skin cancer.
Sunburn is redness of the skin, caused by overexposure to the sun. This is a late reaction in which most pain occurs 12-24 hours after exposure. Severe sunburns can increase the risk of developing skin cancer in adults.
The risk factors that we can find are:
Skin type: Light skin that burns easily and people with freckled skin
Moles: People with many moles
People who visit or live in sunny climates.
Types of damage:
Short-term damage includes: Sunburned skin, skin irritation, eye irritation, or conjunctivitis if appropriate glasses are not used.
Long-term damage: Premature aging of the skin that will later appear waxy and wrinkled. Skin cancer, the more you expose yourself, the greater the risks.
