Skin is recognised as being the largest organ in the body and requires protection to avoid suffering from serious sun damage. As youngsters are most susceptible to skin damage, ensure children are well covered up, with a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Understanding Skin Functions
Skin has three layers, which include the epidermis (outer layer), dermis (inner layer) and subcutaneous layer, which is made from connective tissue and fat. While the epidermis contains melanocytes which produce melanin and give the skin its colour, the dermis helps regulate body temperature. In Skin Cancer and Sun Safety, Newcombe (2010) highlights skin functions, as follows:
- acts as a protective barrier against injury
- prevents loss of moisture from the body
- helps regulate body temperature
- acts as an immune defence against infections
- produces vitamin D
- reduces harmful effects of UV radiation
- acts as a sensory organ, enabling touch, feeling hot/cold temperatures
While a certain amount of exposure to sun is important to health, as it is necessary for obtaining vitamin D, too much exposure can cause dangerous, even life-threatening conditions, such as malignant melanoma. Vitamin D, dubbed "the sunshine vitamin," is recognised as helpful for both building and maintaining strong bones.
How Does Sun Exposure Damage Skin?
The skin is damaged as a result of exposure to the sun, which emits ultraviolet (UV) rays, including UVA, UVB and UVC. While the ozone layer provides protection from UVC rays, both UVA and UVB are able to cause skin damage from a young age. Newcombe (2010) identifies that UVA radiation is a long wavelength ray which is able to penetrate deep into the inner later of the skin or dermis, while in contrast, UVB radiation is a shorter wavelength ray that penetrates the upper layer of skin, or epidermis.
According to Newcombe (2010), the sun damages skin the following ways:
- affects the elastin in the skin
- prematurely ages the skin
- causes sunburn, painful blisters
- causes skin cancers, such as malignant melanoma
- results in wrinkly skin
- irreversibly damages even young skin
- causes skin to appear saggy and leathery
All of the above signs and symptoms associated with sun damage to the skin, making it crucial to avoid exposure to sun and use sun protection, especially in the young, who are deemed most at risk. While a tan may give the false appearance of healthy, glowing skin, it is actually a sign that the skin is already suffering from sun-related damage.
As highlighted above, although the sun has a benefit of helping produce vitamin D, too much exposure can irreversibly damage the skin, cause painful sunburn, leading to skin cancers such as malignant melanoma. Sun safety involves using sunscreen with an appropriate sun protection factor (SPF), wearing sunglasses, sunhats and avoiding prolonged sun exposure during the hottest period of the day.
Source:
Newcombe, R. (2010) Skin Cancer and Sun Safety - The Essential Guide Peterborough: Need 2 Know
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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