We all know how painful and uncomfortable it can be when we spent too much time in the sun without adequate protection against sunburn. In reality, a bad sunburn isn’t just bad for you because of just this discomfort, but it can cause lasting damage to your skin, and even increase the risk of skin cancer. It’s incredibly important that you take precautions against bad sunburn. Let’s look at what causes sunburn, why it’s bad for your skin and some ways you can prevent it.
What is Sunburn?
Your skin getting darker and tanning is your body’s response to the exposure of ultraviolet rays – (specifically UVA and UVB rays) from the sun. When your skin is exposed to this ultraviolet radiation it produces more color pigment called melanin and this causes your skin to tan. This melanin forms the first line of defense against the ultraviolet radiation because as it hits your skin, it reacts with the melanin which serves to absorb some of this radiation.
Sunburn is what happens when there is more exposure to ultraviolet radiation than your skin’s melanin can absorb. Ensuring that we don’t let ourselves experience sunburn is very important for the health of our skin.
Why is Sunburn Bad for Your Skin?
Probably the most publicized long-term effects of too much sun exposure is the development of skin cancer, most commonly melanoma. This is because the ultraviolet radiation can damage the DNA cells of your skin and cause this cancer to develop. Those who experience bad sunburn even just a handful of times in their life can be at risk of developing skin cancer.
Even without the threat of cancer, sun exposure can increase the premature aging of your skin and cause deeper wrinkles and constantly dry skin. You might also start to develop fine red veins on your cheeks and nose. Some of these effects can be soothed and improved with a visit to a med spa in Orange County.
How to Prevent Sunburn
The easiest way to prevent sunburn is to use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30, but preferably even 50. You should apply this sunscreen to all exposed areas of the body and reapply it approximately every two hours.
Shade is your friend on hot, sunny days but when you can’t avoid direct sunlight, then make sure your clothing is made of a tightly woven fabric, or is UV rated. You can also wear a wide brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
You should pay special attention to preventing sunburn around reflective surfaces like water, snow, and sand, all of which can increase the risk of you getting sunburn.
Without much effort, we can protect ourselves from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun and keep our skin safe from the lasting damage it can cause. Always wear sunscreen if you’re outside for a long period of time, avoid any form of tanning beds and limit purposefully tanning. Your skin will thank you.