There are many concerns today about over exposure to the sun and certainly the dangers of sun exposure are many. You may ask, what are the dangers of sun exposure?
To begin with the most immediate and obvious danger of too much sun exposure is that of sunburn to the skin. Sunburned skin has highly damaged cells and blood vessels and with consistent sun exposure and damage your skin will start to get incredibly dry, wrinkled, leathery in look and feel, and even discolored. In addition, skin that has been sunburned time and time again begins to weaken with each harmful exposure.
Though sunburn is the most obvious danger there is most assuredly a far more serious threat to those who choose to sunbathe repeatedly and over expose their skin to the sun’s harmful rays. Most people know exactly what this serious danger is – skin cancer. Today statistics confirm for us that the most common form of cancer now is that of skin cancer, which, doctors across the globe will tell you, can be avoided by simply preventing the skin from excessive sun damage.
Some people believe that sunbathing and the sun itself offers the body certain benefits. They believe that sunlight is good for the body because of the vitamin D it provides. This may have been the case in years past since vitamin D was not found naturally in most foods, but today there are many foods that are fortified with vitamin D making the need for sun exposure little to none. Of course, being outdoors is healthy and most people find enjoyment in being active outdoors, but it is important to remember to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging effects when engaging in any type of outdoor activities.
The best formula for protecting yourself from sun damage is obviously to stay out of the sun and steer clear of sun damage. However, most people are outdoors on a regular basis, especially during the hot summer months, so it is important to follow a few important precautions when exposing your skin to the sun:
- Always apply a suntan lotion. Make it a part of your daily routine to apply it to your skin every day and be certain that your sunscreen of choice contains a high sun protection factor (SPF) which will protect you from the burning UVB rays of the sun. It is typically recommended to use a product with an SPF of 30 regardless of age, gender, or skin type, and if you are one of the lucky ones who never burns, it is still imperative that you use a sunscreen with SPF.
- Wear protective clothing whenever you can, especially when you will be outdoors for an extended period of time. Long sleeves and pants and an over-sized hat will help protect your body from all the endless harmful effects of the sun.
- Wear sunglasses that are designed to filter UV light. This is every bit as important as wearing sunscreen and is an obvious protection factor for your eyes.
- And finally, always but always be certain that if you are outdoors with your children that you apply a good amount of sunscreen to their bodies as well. A simple important fact about the use of sunscreen on children – if it is used regularly in childhood years, sunscreen can definitely prevent skin cancers from developing later on in your children’s lives.
Yes, it is true that everyone loves a beautiful, deep, dark tan, but the price that many pay to attain that tan has a greater effect on the body than just looking sexy. If you are one of the millions of sun worshippers across the globe, then protecting yourself from sun damage should be every bit as important to your daily life as eating, sleeping and yes, even breathing.
If you feel like you are spending to much time in the sun due to addiction visit www.spatanningtablets.co.uk/tanning-help/addiction/ for some help and information.
Paula Ryan is the creator of Spa tanning tablets. She has a PhD in nutritional sciences and is now studying food supplements further.
She lives in the south of England with her husband, daughter, and 2 cats. In her spare time she most enjoys, being a Mum, learning, cooking, keeping fit, and holidays abroad.
