Summer is imminent. Barring the occasional spell of wet weather (which, in the UK, is par for the course), we can look forward to weeks of glorious sunshine. While this might seem like an unequivocally welcome development, it presents a few downsides. The sun has the potential to inflict considerable harm on our skin and eyes, especially if we don’t take steps to protect ourselves.
Why does skin protection matter?
As well as radiating visible light, the sun also produces wavelengths that go beyond the visible spectrum. We can’t see wavelengths shorter than around 400 nanometres. Once light reaches this threshold, we call it ‘ultra violet’ – which basically means it’s gone beyond violet, the highest-frequency kind of visible light.
You might have heard that ultraviolet radiation is bad for your skin. But the precise frequency we’re talking about matters. The experts split UV light up into several categories. These are UV ‘A’, UV ‘B’, and UV ‘C’.
The last of these, category ‘C’, we don’t need to worry about, since the oxygen in the atmosphere blocks it. UV ‘A’ and ‘B’, however, can present considerable problems.
UV ‘A’ represents the majority of UV radiation that reaches us on Earth. They have higher wavelengths (between 315-400), but less energy. They can cause premature aging, and certain kinds of skin cancer.
UV ‘B’ rays can’t penetrate the skin as deeply, but they can cause most skin cancers, and damage the DNA directly. The key difference here is that UV-B doesn’t cause immediate sunburn – there’s a delay. This is why you might find that you caught the sun worse than you initially thought. The solution here is to plan ahead and protect yourself.
How to care for your skin during summer
There are a few steps to take to protect yourself against the harmful effects of UV exposure.
The first is to limit your time in the sun. Seek the shade when the sun is strongest, especially around midday. By taking a break, you’ll give your skin a chance to react to the UV-B you’ve been exposed to. If it looks like you’re burning, it’s time to stop.
You might also cover yourself with clothes, sunglasses and sunblock.The factor of sunblock you choose will determine how much protection you get. If you’d like to build up a tan, then it makes sense to opt for a lower factor – but you’ll need to be careful.
It’s important to bear in mind that your complexion will make a big difference to how easily you burn. Dark-skinned people have more melanin, which you can think of as a kind of naturally occurring sunblock. With that said, don’t assume that you’re safe from the sun just because you’re dark-skinned – UV light can still drive rates of skin cancer.