subject: Protect Your Skin This Summer Whilst Enjoying Your Time In The Sun! [print this page] We all love a bit of sunshine and in many ways it is really good for us to get out and about and soak up a few of the suns rays. Sunlight triggers the production of vitamin D within our bodies which is important to our health. Sunlight can also greatly affect peoples mood and in the winter months some people can be affected by a condition called Seasonal Affected Disorder, attributed to lack of sunlight. It has also been found that in some health studies a healthy exposure to the sun can be a preventative measure against some forms of cancer.
It is however, important for us to understand that excessive exposure can lead to health problems and that we need to take care of our skin when out and about in the sunshine. The colour of our skin is determined by how much melanin we each have. Melanin is a dark pigment produced by melanocyte cells. The most dangerous result of over exposure to the ultraviolet light from the sun is melanoma, a type of life threatening skin cancer which occurs within these cells.
The sun can burn our skin causing blistering, swelling and redness. It stings and is very sore to the touch. An episode of sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer. The sun can also cause more aesthetic damage to our skin such as premature aging of the skin, inducing wrinkles and sun spots.
It is for this reason that it is essential that we protect our body from harmful rays and this can be done by making sure we take simple steps. Different people have different levels of melanin in the skin and this means that some are more susceptible to burning than others. Even if you are not a person that visibly burns in the sun, it is still important to cover up as your skin is still at risk or damage.
Sun creams are designed to absorb or block out ultraviolet radiation from the sun, thus filtering out the damaging element. Along with the use of sun cream avoiding the sun at its peak hottest times can help to protect your skin. Wearing protective clothing and peaked hats and shades to protect the face are another good idea.
The sun is of course vital to our health and wellbeing, however over exposure can lead to some serious health problems. There are many effective sun creams on offer so ensure you cover up this summer!
