It's a well know fact that extended exposure to the sun's ultra violet light rays (UV), invisible intense rays of the sun can cause skin cancer, wrinkles and premature aging. Prolonged exposure to UVA or UVB accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature aging of the skin such as age/ liver spots and easy bruising of the skin along with the increased risk of skin cancer.



UV radiation is divided in to 3 categories:

UVC radiation does not affect the skin and is completely absorbed by the ozone layer. UVC radiation is found in artificial sources, such as tanning booths.

UVB radiation affects the outer layer of the skin and is responsible for suntans and sunburns. UVB rays are most intense between the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM and much more intense during the summer months.

UVA radiation is a major contributor to skin damage. It penetrates deeper into the skin and is more constant than UVB. The intensity of UVA does not vary according to time of day or time of year.

UV radiation skin changes:

UV radiation breaks down collagen fibers and this process repeated over and over can develop wrinkles. UV exposure causes thickening and thinning of the skin causing wrinkles, easy bruising and tearing of the skin.

UV radiation causes the wall of blood vessels to become thinner causing bruising from a minor bump and appearance of tiny blood vessels in the skin especially on the face (those tiny red lines on cheeks and around the nose).

UV changes occur in the pigment in the form of freckles in light / fair-skinned people. Large freckles, also known as age or liver spots, appear on the back of hands, chest, shoulders, arms and upper back. Age or liver spots, as they are known, have nothing to do with age but are due to sun damage.

Moreover, UV of course, can cause more serious damage ? Skin Cancer.

There are three types of skin cancer:

Melanoma ? is the most deadly and spreads to other parts of the body more readily than other types. Melanoma is the eighth most common cancer in the United States and causes 1-2% of all cancer deaths. It most frequently appears on the trunk in men and on the legs in women, but it can occur anywhere on the body. Suspicious or changing moles need to be diagnosed and treated immediately.

Basal Cell Carcinoma ? is the most common skin cancer and tends to spread locally. Here again diagnosis and treatment immediately is important.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ? is the second most common, it can spread but is not as likely to a Melanoma. As before, diagnosis and treatment immediately is important.

Protection is key to preventing UV damage to the skin. Here are some tips about sunscreens.

Sunscreens should contain ingredients that physically block UVA and UVB radiation. Look for a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15-plus and the ingredient Avobenzone, Titanium, or Zinc Oxide.

Sunscreens or moisturizers with SPF 15-plus should be applied daily even in winter months. It should be applied liberally enough that it forms a film over sun-exposed areas. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin. It should also be reapplied after swimming, excessive sweating or toweling.

Important Note: Insect repellents reduce the sunscreen's SPF by up to one-third. When using sunscreen and insect repellent together a higher SPF sunscreen should be used and reapplied more often.

On a positive note, the body manufactures vitamin D when exposed to sunshine, and it is recommended people get 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week. So get out and enjoy the sunshine just remember to much sun can cause skin cancer, wrinkles and premature aging so protect areas exposed to the sun during those peak sunshine hours, use a SPF of 15-plus sunscreen, protective clothing and a good pair of sunglasses to protect the eyes