With summer here and more daylight hours, protection from UV rays is more important to pay attention to. July is also UV Safety Awareness Month which is fitting given how much sunshine we see in this month alone.
Situation
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a radiation harmful to the skin emitted from the sun and artificial lights, such as tanning beds or sunlamps. There are some benefits to UV exposure which is the stimulation of vitamin D production within the body. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5-15 minutes of UV exposure 2-3 times a week at the most (CDC, 2021). Anything more than 15 minutes puts the person at increased risk for skin damage.
UV light rays damage the skin cells leading to sunburns, premature aging, and skin cancer (melanoma). Melanoma, the most common cancer in the United States, is a cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin color. Melanoma can be treated successfully if identified early (Mayo Clinic, 2020). We discuss this in a future post.
In next week’s segment we’ll learn about the background and history of UV research as well as a more in-depth look at melanoma. Have a great week!
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). UV radiation. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/uv-radiation-safety/index.html
Mayo Clinic. (2020). Melanoma. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/melanoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20374884
