Fight the Sun This Summer

By now, we all know of the dangers brought on by the sun. Too much exposure to the sun can lead to burns, sun poisoning, and skin cancer. These complications can be pretty scary, not to mention painful.

Sunburns are painful, at the least. Even a slight burn can be irritating, but more severe burns can have other side effects. Blisters can be painful, and can easily become infected. Chills often accompany sunburns, as well. Sunburns can also potentially lead to sun poisoning.

Sun poisoning can be dangerous. On top of the worry about skin damage, it also makes you very ill. Fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting are just a few of the symptoms. It can also cause dizziness, swelling, and rash.

Skin cancer is the biggest concern when it comes to sun damage. It is the most common form of cancer in the United States. While it can easily be removed in many cases, it can still lead to more serious battles, and can even lead to death in some cases.

After reading some of the possibilities, we can easily see why it is important to protect ourselves from these dangers this summer. However, all the protection options can get a little confusing.

First off, we have to wonder about UVA and UVB. What do they really mean? UVA refers to the longer wavelength UV light that leads to less harmful side-effects. However, these UVA effects are still bothersome. As the UVA penetrates deep into the skin, it lessens the elasticity and firmness of the skin, and can cause premature aging and wrinkles.

UVB refers to the more dangerous of the UV light. The shorter wavelength UV light is what causes the damage to the top of the skin. It is what leads to sun burns, and can eventually lead to skin cancer.

We may not be as concerned about the damage caused by UVA rays, but they can still be rather bothersome. For this reason, it is best to look for sunscreens that protect both from UVA and UVB rays. After all, better protection means better skin as we grow older.