|
Playing and enjoying yourself under the sun can be such a pleasure. Unfortunately, due to changes in the earth’s ozone layer and other factors, over exposure to the sun can become quite a problem. Many problems of the skin are related to over exposure to the sun’s rays. These include common problems such as sunburn, to more serious conditions such as melanoma (skin cancer), untimely skin aging and a host of others. Getting to know these hazards and some precautionary measures will help you a great deal in enjoying more sunshine while also decreasing your chances of developing any skin difficulties that are brought about by over exposure to the sun.
Sunburn is the most common problem that is brought about by over exposure to the harmful UV rays from the sun. It can affect any type of skin and it is usually classified into three stages or degrees: 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree.
1st degree sunburn usually results in the skin turning pink or even red. It makes the affected skin very sensitive to the touch. At this degree however, it is very easily treatable. Sunburn creams and even water can take care of the burn and relieve the pain.
At the 2nd degree stage, the skin already begins to blister. The skins on the back and on the shoulders are usually the ones that suffer sun burn to this degree. The skin starts to peel and the pain is a lot more heightened.
When exposure to the sun has been so much as to damage the skin to a 3rd degree sunburn, immediate treatment should be taken. At this level, the skin will start to erupt. These eruptions are very susceptible to infection and are therefore very dangerous. Some infections can cause serious and permanent damage to the skin. In some cases, they can even cause death. Many skin specialists believe that sun burn, especially high degree and repetitive sunburn, can lead to skin cancer.
Among the many skin cancers, melanoma is considered to be the most deadly one though basal cell carcinoma is also considered as a major concern, along with squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma poses the biggest risk because of its ability to metastasize easily. It is commonly believed that the biggest factor in developing melanoma is over exposure to the sun’s UV rays during a person’s teen years. Melanoma is, unfortunately, the type of cancer with the fastest growth rate in the United States. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the first and second most widespread forms of skin cancer respectively.
All of these skin problems brought about by over exposure to the sun are highly preventable. Just make sure that you are always protected by the proper sunscreen that is appropriate for your skin and the amount of exposure you are likely to encounter. Usually, an SPF 15 is adequate for most types of exposure. Furthermore, if you have a choice, try to get your play time in the sun either in the early morning or in the afternoon, a few hours before sunset. It is the midday sun that is the most powerful and is therefore the most damaging.
|
