An Introduction to Sun Protection
Protecting yourself from the Sun’s Harmful UV Rays.
During the summer months and in year round warm climates, millions of people enjoy the bright warm sun.
Sunshine is one of the best components of almost all daytime outdoor activities; it’s been shown that it makes people happier and feel better and it’s also a great natural source of vitamin D.
However exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays is very dangerous and skin cancer has become the most common form of cancer in America.
Sun Protection is no Joke!
Protection from the sun’s damaging rays is imperative for those that wish to grow old gracefully. It’s also an absolute must for anyone who wants to limit his or her risk of developing skin cancer.
Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to some severe complications. A painful sunburn is the most immediate consequence of excess sun exposure.
Long term, excess sun exposure can damage the skin making it prone to premature aging such as wrinkles and age spots and even worse, skin cancer. It can also cause permanent and sometimes blinding damage to the eyes.
Individuals with lupus are also very sensitive to UV rays which is a known trigger for a flare up. It is therefore imperative they wear some sort of protection from the sun such as hats, clothing, sunscreen and eye protection.
There are also several types of drugs that cause sensitivity to the sun such as:
- Antidepressants.
- Antibiotics.
- Diuretics.
- Retinoids.
Be sure to read any material that comes with your medication before taking it and always alert your doctor of any concerns.
When do you Need Sun Protection?
Many doctors will tell you that sun protection is needed any time you’re out in the sun, and they’re right. Although some people will think this is realistically impossible, it’s very important that you wear sun protection anytime you’ll be outdoors when the sun is at its highest, which is between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Think because it’s Cloudy out you don’t Need Sun Protection?
Overcast days can be some of the worst days for sunburn for some because there are many people who think they are protected by the clouds or fog. Or that just because they can’t see the sun, it’s damaging UV rays can’t harm them.
This is so not true. The suns UV rays can penetrate through glass so they have no problem burning their way through clouds.
So even though it is cloudy or foggy be sure to protect yourself from the sun’s penetrating UV rays.
Be sure to protect yourself in the winter also.
Because ultraviolet rays can reflect off certain surfaces, protection is needed even when snow covers the ground. UV rays also reflect off water, sand, grass and cement surfaces so be sure to use protection.
Understanding UV Rays.
The sun produces different wavelengths of energy that are called ultraviolet rays. Although too much unprotected sun exposure is harmful, the sun’s energy is essential to all human life.
Luckily, as life on earth evolved so has its ability to tolerate UV rays. The ozone layer is a layer in the stratosphere that absorbs 93% to 99% of the various types of damaging UV rays before they reach the earth’s surface.
The Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is the most important protection against the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays.
The fact that most of the radiation or energy from the sun is invisible to the naked eye could be the reason why the sun can be so harmful. It’s not easy to convince people to protect themselves against something they can’t see.
UVA and UVB
UVA and UVB are the two ultraviolet rays that are responsible for skin damage.
UVA
UVA rays which are the longer and most common of the two are to blame for long-term skin damage such as wrinkling, aging and discoloration because they absorb deep into the skin. Their strength remains consistent despite the time of day or year.
UVB
Although our bodies need UVB rays to produce Vitamin D, which is an important vitamin, these shorter UVB rays are what causes skin to tan or burn and it also causes skin cancer. The strength of the UVB rays varies based on time of day, time of year, altitude and even distance from the equator.
The sun also generates UVC rays, but fortunately these extremely damaging rays cannot penetrate the ozone layer and therefore pose no threat to humans.
If you’d like more information you can read my post on the UV Index.
~ To your health and well being 
Healthy Nutritional Products
