Contents:
- Medical Video: Teens, tanning beds, and Protecting Ourselves from Sun Exposure
- Sunlight is harmful to the skin
- How to protect the skin from the dangers of sunlight?
- 1. Protect the skin with the clothes you wear
- 2. Use sunscreen on your skin
- 3. Additional tips
Medical Video: Teens, tanning beds, and Protecting Ourselves from Sun Exposure
We already know that the dangers of radiation are also produced by sunlight. The danger of sun radiation can even cause skin cancer. About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86% of melanomas are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Therefore, as much as possible we must protect the skin from the sun. How to?
Sunlight is harmful to the skin
Sunlight produces ultraviolet light which is proven to cause skin cancer. You need to know that ultraviolet light is divided into two types, namely:
- Ultraviolet light A or UV A. UV A rays are dangerous because they can penetrate the glass and can cause premature aging of the skin. Based on research, UV A rays may cause basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
- Ultraviolet B or UV B. Unlike UV A light, UV B rays cannot penetrate the glass. However, UV B light is very closely related to the development of skin cancer and melanoma.
How to protect the skin from the dangers of sunlight?
There are several ways to protect the skin from the dangers of sunlight radiation, namely:
1. Protect the skin with the clothes you wear
When you leave the house during the day when the sun is hot, you should wear clothes that almost cover all parts of your skin. Choose long-sleeved clothes and pants or a long skirt for you to wear during the day. Also, choose clothes that are darker than lighter colors, choose clothes that are more tightly closed than those that are loosely woven, and choose clothes that are dry compared to wet ones to better protect your skin from UV light.
Some clothing companies now also produce clothing that has a special layer to help absorb UV light. These clothes usually include labels UV protection factor or SPF that has a value of 15-50 +. The higher the SPF, the more able it is to protect you from UV light.
You can also use a hat to protect your head, including ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp from the dangers of solar radiation.
2. Use sunscreen on your skin
You can use sunscreen to protect your skin from the dangers of sunlight radiation. However, you need to remember that sunscreen only filters instead of blocking all the UV rays that hit your skin. Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight that hits the skin. So, using a sunscreen does not mean you can linger in the sun. You may be exposed to the dangers of UV light even if you have used sunscreen.
When you choose sunscreen, you should pay attention to how much SPF (sun protection factor) contained in the sunscreen. The SPF content can help determine how long the sunscreen can protect your skin. For example, if your skin can get sunburn after 20 minutes in the sun and you choose a sunscreen with SPF 15, the sunscreen will protect your skin for 300 minutes (SPF 15 x 20 minutes = 300 minutes). Choose sunscreens with a minimum of SPF 15 regardless of what color your skin is. Sunscreens with SPF above 15 can function well in people who have mild pigmented skin, who live in the highlands, or who work more or more often outdoors.
In addition to those containing SPF, choose a sunscreen with broad spectrum, protect your skin from UV A and UV B rays, and are waterproof. You can also use cosmetics that already contain SPF, such as powder, lip balm, or lipstick. Now there are many cosmetic products that contain SPF.
Do not forget to wear a sunscreen 15-30 minutes before you leave the house. Use it especially on body parts exposed to sunlight, such as the neck and arms or other parts that are not covered by your clothes. You can use sunscreen again after a few hours (depending on SPF) or after you sweat or swim. If you find an allergic reaction to a particular brand of sunscreen, you should replace your brand of sunscreen or visit your dermatologist.
3. Additional tips
It is recommended that you limit the time you are exposed to the sun, especially at 10: 00-16: 00, where the sun is hot. If your shadow is shorter than yours, you should walk or do outdoor activities in the shade.
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