Why You Need to Protect Your Skin from UV Rays
By: keisha | Posted: 04th March 2010
Suntan lotions and sunless tanning products have always capitalized on the fact that UV rays are harmful to the skin and can cause skin cancer to build up their industry. However, UV rays are not inherently bad. In fact, they are used in many treatments of many diseases. But the fact of the matter is that too much of anything is bad. So in essence, you protect your skin from too much exposure to UV rays and not from UV rays themselves as they are naturally good.
Ultraviolet ray is a type of electromagnetic radiation that holds an intense concentration of energy that causes mutation in cells. Even if the term radiation usually connotes a lot of negative effects, UV rays still have a lot of positive uses. First is that it is needed by the human body to produce Vitamin D that helps fight off many diseases. Second, it is used in many medical applications like (1) ultraviolet antisepsis that kills off bacteria and microorganisms, (2) ultraviolet therapy that involves the use of UV rays to cure many diseases like psoriasis, and (3) ultraviolet irradiation used to also cure various diseases and sterilize a range of instruments and tools. Third, it is used aesthetically for skin tanning purposes.
It is because of the fact that UV rays contain an enormous amount of energy within itself that over-exposure can lead to serious skin and eye conditions, not to mention severe damage to the immune and nervous system. Although the human body is also equipped to repair itself through various defense and healing mechanisms, when exposed to a large amount of UV rays at small intervals, damage can be grave and permanent. In extreme cases, it can even be fatal.
In fact, the World Health Organization reported that in the year 2000, "excessive exposure to UV radiation caused the loss of approximately 1.5 million DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) and 60,000 premature deaths."
The UV rays' power is the main reason why it is good for the body, but only in small doses. When the skin is exposed to too much UV rays, extreme health consequences may become inevitable. With the most common exposure of UV rays coming from outdoor activities like tanning, what happens is that over-exposure usually happens without you knowing it. The next thing you know, you might already be diagnosed with skin cancer or become disfigured for life. That is why it is imperative for you to protect your skin from too much exposure to UV rays. The best practice to protect your skin is to always wear sunscreen and wear shades.
BUT if you regularly want a tanned complexion, it is highly recommended for you to limit or avoid sunbathing, especially during midday, and tanning beds and lamps. The best alternative to these two popular tanning activities is to just use sunless tanning products. Self tanning is the way to go as it does not involve any UV radiation whatsoever.
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Tags: extreme cases, skin cancer, uv rays, world health organization, serious skin, sunless tanning products, uv radiation, eye conditions, skin tanning, excessive exposure, electromagnetic radiation, medical applications