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Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is emitted by the sun and penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere. Some UV radiation is essential for human health, with the sun’s rays providing us with warmth and light, but a balance is essential as exposure to UV rays can also lead to dangerous skin damage, including cancer. Experts estimate that the number of new cases of skin cancer will reach record levels by 2024, even though 90% of cases are completely preventable, news.ro reported.
According to statistics, one in three cancers diagnosed worldwide are skin cancers. It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. British experts have warned that skin cancer cases will reach record levels this year. Cancer Research UK predicts that by 2024, a record nearly 30,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, although 90% of cases are completely preventable if people protect their skin from the sun and stop using tanning salons.
UV rays are beneficial because they allow the skin to produce essential vitamin D for the body. This is important for the functioning of bones, blood cells and the immune system. How dangerous are UV rays? According to the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classification, UV radiation belongs to Group 1, which represents all chemical and physical agents that have carcinogenic potential to humans.
Professor Dorothy Bennett, of St George’s, University of London, said we need to control our exposure. But UV rays are also dangerous because every exposure to UV rays, and especially every sunburn, increases the risk of skin cancer. Melanoma is an extremely aggressive form of skin cancer, caused in most cases by uncontrolled exposure to solar radiation. This skin cancer is curable in its early stages, but very aggressive in the metastatic stage. Melanomas found in the first stages have a high chance of being cured (98%), but those found in the later stages can be fatal. “Melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer and is currently the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with its continued increase attributed to sun exposure,” she explained. The main causes of melanoma are overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, regardless of its source (natural or artificial), a family history of melanoma, light skin phototype (light skin), an increased number of moles on the body or the presence of clinically or dermoscopically atypical moles.Recent research shows that people who have had skin cancer once are at a higher risk of developing the disease again, with reports showing that 2% to 10% of melanoma survivors will develop a second primary melanoma, and 30% to 50% of melanoma survivors will develop a second primary melanoma. % of people with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) develop a second NMSC within 5 years. UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, which can promote the development of skin cancer. UV radiation has also been linked to eye problems, including cataracts. There is growing evidence that UV radiation can reduce the body’s ability to fight off certain diseases. What is the UV Index UV radiation levels vary throughout the day. The highest values are recorded during the four hours around “solar noon”, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky – usually from late morning to early afternoon. The UV Index (or UVI) is an international standard for measuring UV radiation. Values start at 0 and can rise to over 10. The higher the number, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eyes, and the shorter the time it will take for damage to occur.How UV levels differ Countries near the equator experience very high UV levels at midday all year round. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), UV levels in Nairobi, Kenya, are above 10 all year round. June and July in Mallorca, Spain, usually reach nine. But the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic don’t usually go above five in December and January (when summer hits in the Southern Hemisphere). When extra protection is needed According to the WHO, extra sun protection is needed when UV levels are: 11+ (very high); 8-10 (very high); protection is needed when levels are: 6-7 (high); 3-5 (moderate); and no protection is needed when levels are: 1-2 (low). According to the experts, there is no safe or healthy way to get a tan. Dr Bav Shergill of the British Association of Dermatologists says the safest way to get a good tan is “from the glass” – using a tanning spray. “When you tan, the UV rays stimulate the skin cells to produce pigment in an attempt to protect the skin cells’ DNA – but the protection is small – equivalent to SP4. It’s not very protective, so you burn very quickly,” he warns. We can get a tan even on a cloudy, windy day. Helen Willetts of BBC Weather says: “Skin can get sunburned very quickly whether it’s 30C or 20C. Even on a cloudy day, UV rays can still penetrate thin clouds – so even if you don’t think it’s that sunny, you can still burn your skin,” she says. Dr Michaela Hegglin, of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, says the amount of UV rays reaching the skin does not depend on daily temperatures. Experts say a sunny, breezy day in late April will have about the same UV levels as a warm, sunny day in August. What happens when the skin ages Unprotected UV exposure plays a major role in skin ageing – it damages the collagen and elastin fibres in healthy skin. This leads to the appearance of wrinkles and folds that form as the skin stretches, losing its elasticity.In addition, the sun can dry out the skin, making it rough and thick. Tips from experts on how to avoid damage from UV rays include: Stay in the shade when the sun is strongest (11:00am to 6:00pm, during the hot summer months when temperatures are extremely high); Avoid burning your skin; Wear appropriate clothing and sunglasses; Use at least 30x sunscreen; Reapply sunscreen every two hours; Take extra care of children; Dr. Shergill warns that global studies show that people often forget certain parts of the body when applying sunscreen. “People often forget to include the side of the nose near the eye – we see a lot of skin cancers there,” he says. Other areas include the crease near the nose, cheeks, temples and upper chest. As a guide, adults should apply six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen if covering the entire body. Experts warn that those with darker skin tones should be concerned. “The skin may appear darker, but it doesn’t always look that way from a protection point of view – because there are more genes at play than we think,” says Dr. Shergill. “For example, I’ve seen people from South Asia with skin cancer, and I’ve also seen people with a double inheritance of skin cancer. The risk of eye damage and potentially harmful effects on the immune system remains regardless of skin color.” In Romania, the national meteorological service displays the UV index every day on its website.
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