As fall begins, many people's awareness about sunburn fades away. The Earth's Northern Hemisphere starts moving far from the sun, and the atmosphere blocks part of the sun's harmful UV rays. Temperatures drop as the sun's rays battle to reach us.
However, do not let these seasonal changes deceive you. You're still threatened by skin damage.
Myth #1: I'm safe indoors
When considering sun exposure, you might imagine yourself at the beach or working out outdoors. However, countless Americans receive a big part of their UV exposure when they do not even recognize it--in their cars or while at work.
UV radiation from the sun, connected with about 90 percent of all skin cancers, reaches the earth as long-wavelength UVA and shortwave UVB rays. Glass effectively protects against UVB, and windshields are chemically treated to block UVA as well, but a cars and truck's side and rear windows aren't and neither are office windows.
UV damage is cumulative, and research has demonstrated that skin being exposed to sunshine through workplace window glass can result in considerable skin damage with time.
Myth #2: I'm just at risk when the sun is strong
Cold weather conditions can increase the negative results of UV exposure in a number of methods. First, snow shows approximately 80 percent of UV rays. The outcome is that the very same sun rays can hit you twice . Furthermore, snow, cold and strong winds can erode your sun block's effectiveness.
Be aware: In high altitudes, UV radiation is even more stronger. Plus, the thinner atmosphere does less to deflect the same number of the sun's hazardous rays. This makes colder season athletes, namely skiers and snowboarders, more vulnerable to sun damage due to the fact they spend so much time at high elevations where the UV exposure can be vastly more harmful than even at the beach. This is because UV radiation increases 4 to 5 percent with every 1,000 feet above water level.
Myth #3: Cloud cover will safeguard me
Research proves that 80% of UV rays can go through clouds. Do not let a cloudy day fool you into forgetting your sun block. Even through cloud coverage, UV rays reach the Earth's surface and your skin. Some studies even show that clouds can strengthen UV rays. The sun's beams reflect off the sides of clouds causing radiation to be more concentrated and harmful.
So do not leave your skin out to roast. Safeguard it even if you can't see the sun.
Conclusion
Skin cancer is severe. It is approximated that 1 in 5 Americans will suffer from skin cancer at least once in their lives and 1.3 million brand-new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer will be detected this year, according to the American Cancer Society. One in every 62 Americans will develop melanoma and about 9,000 are forecasted to pass away from the disease.
Most forms, more than 90 percent, of skin cancer is triggered by exposure to UV rays. Deaths from skin cancer are mostly preventable if we protect ourselves from the sun throughout the year. As kept in mind here, simple and practical preventative actions can go a long method to decreasing the prospective harm to the skin from the sun no matter the time of year.
