Twenty percent of Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. The best way to lessen your chances of getting this condition is to limit exposure to UVA and UVB radiation. This type of radiation can also cause early wrinkles and other problems with your skin, according to Family Doctor.
Warning
Sunburns are not the only sign of skin damage, even suntans are not healthy, as a tan is one of the earlier stages of skin damage. By the time you start to look tan, your skin cells have already been damaged, according to Medline Plus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, warns that harmful UV rays can still reach you on cloudy days, and that these rays reflect off surfaces like water, sand, cement and snow.
Significance
You should try to avoid sun damage as much as possible because this type of damage is cumulative. Although some of the damage gets repaired by the body, some remains, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This means that even if you already have sun damage, you can get more and the damage will just continue to get worse.
Prevention/Solution
There are a number of steps you can take to limit sun damage. These include staying out of the sun during peak hours in the middle of the day, using protective clothing and sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 and limiting time in the sun overall, according to the EPA. Check yourself regularly for irregular-looking moles and get any that you find checked out by your doctor.
Misconceptions
Some people believe that just because they don't burn they won't get skin cancer. However, skin damage occurs just from being out in the sun for extended periods of time and even before a tan or burn shows up, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Even darker skinned people can get sun damage, and this can occur through water or on cloudy days as well as on sunny days.
Expert Insight
The CDC recommends seeking shade during the midday hours, wearing sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 and wearing sunglasses with wide spectrum protection as well as a wide-brimmed hat and protective clothing. Since 80 percent of exposure to the sun happens before the age of 18, it is especially important to protect kids from the sun, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
