Sunbathing: What you need to know about UV rays – what are the risks

The sun is necessary for the production of vitamin D, but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays on unprotected skin can cause skin damage, and UV rays can also damage the eyes and immune system.

About 95% of the sun's UV radiation consists of UVA rays. UVA radiation is strong all day long and all year round. Unlike UVA rays, UVB rays cannot penetrate as deeply into the skin and are 400 times stronger in summer and midday (10:00 am to 4:00 pm).

UVB is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D in human skin, but UVB, like UVA, cause skin damage, which in the long term can lead to skin cancer.

Excessive sun exposure

It is difficult to determine when sun exposure is “too much” as it depends on personal characteristics such as skin type, sun strength and location. “Damage” to the skin increases with the duration of sun exposure, and the damage will be more pronounced if exposure occurs during very strong sun conditions, i.e. during midday hours (eg between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm) and especially during the summer months. For example, with UV 6, a person with skin type 1 or 2 will get a sunburn in 10-15 minutes.

Over time, the sun's ultraviolet rays break down skin fibers called elastin. When these fibers break down, your skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to contract (return to its original position).

Your skin also bruises and the injury takes longer to heal. So although Skin damage from the sun may not be noticeable when you are young, but will become apparent later in life.

How to protect your skin from the sun

If you go out in the sun, you should be sure to protect the parts of your body that are most exposed to the sun, such as your face, neck, and hands. If you get a sunburn, you've definitely been exposed to more than is safe.

Research has shown that using sunscreen daily reduces the risk of sunburn or melanoma by 50% compared to using sunscreen only while sunbathing.

It has been proven that The benefits of sunscreen and sun protection in general (including avoiding midday sun and tanning, and wearing hats, protective clothing and sunglasses) counteract photoaging and prevent skin cancer. To protect yourself, you should apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 30 minutes before sun exposure and every two to three hours thereafter.

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