Why do some people sunbathe, while others get sunburn at the moment

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

During the holiday season, when many people get out to the sea, we have prepared an article in which we told in simple language everything you need to know about sunburn, sunburn, UV radiation, sunscreens and skin cancer. Read on and don't put yourself unnecessarily at risk.

Summer is the time when many take vacations and leave to bask in the sun. But if for some sunbathing is a sheer pleasure, for others it is a risk of experiencing pain and discomfort, which are called sunburn.

I'm sure you already know that sunburn is the result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin and that it is possible to prevent unpleasant consequences with the help of sunscreen. But what you may not know is that sunburn is nothing more than a protective reaction of the body, and that the effectiveness of aloe vera (popularly considered one of the best remedies for relieving burn symptoms) has not been proven at all.

Considering that sunburn is a fairly common occurrence, it is surprising how many questions, myths and misconceptions it has overgrown.

In this article we will explain to you what tanning, sunburn, sunscreens are and, most importantly, how to protect yourself from the development of cancerous tumors.

Why do some people sunbathe, while others instantly burn

In short, sunburn is the reaction of skin cells to damage to DNA molecules by ultraviolet rays. By themselves, sunburn and sunburn are not harmful to the body, this is only evidence that the DNA molecules have been damaged, which means that the likelihood of developing skin cancer has increased.

Ultraviolet (UV) is electromagnetic radiation that covers the spectral range between visible and X-ray radiation. The sun emits several types of ultraviolet radiation.

Short wavelength UV (UV-C) is almost completely absorbed by the ozone layer. But the remaining two types (UV-A and UV-B) are capable of penetrating the ozone layer.

For a long time, it was mistakenly believed that only UV-B can cause skin damage and cause DNA molecules to become excited (this leads to mutations, genetic disorders and, as a result, the development of cancer).

More recently, scientists have found that while UV-A does not cause burns, this type of radiation also triggers the development of cancer.

It should be borne in mind that our body has natural protection from ultraviolet radiation - a dark pigment called melanin. Melanin stains cells dark and reduces the harmful effects of radiation on the body.

Some people have elevated levels of melanin from birth, which makes their skin darker and less vulnerable to UV exposure. Others are forced to produce this pigment when exposed to small doses of radiation. The whole process takes from one to three days, and when it is completed, what we used to call a tan appears.

At the same time, the presence of sunburn does not mean at all that your skin is completely protected from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. People of all skin tones are prone to sunburn. It's just that those who have less melanin are more likely to get burned.

Why sunburns cause pain, itching, and blistering

The body's first reaction to damage to DNA molecules during radiation is to kill the affected cells. This is necessary to prevent the mutated cells from reproducing uncontrollably, forming a tumor.

If the dead cells in the upper layers of the skin peel off without any special obstacles (about a day after a sunburn), then the damaged cells in the deep layers of the body have to be cleaned. There is a special mechanism for this.

When a cell dies, it releases a tiny piece of damaged genetic material. This is a signal for neighboring cells to initiate a series of changes known as an inflammatory response.

This is the very reaction that the body triggers in response to infection. Blood vessels dilate, increasing blood flow (resulting in a rise in temperature), increased protein synthesis leads to itching and pain.

If a large number of cells are killed at once, a blister forms in their place. The body needs this in order to fill the damaged tissue with plasma and thus promote healing.

When and where are you more likely to get burned?

The time it takes to develop burns is proportional to the amount of UV light taken by the skin. Accordingly, the more direct rays hit the skin, the greater the dose received.

That is, the closer to the equator, the higher the chance of getting sunburn. Likewise, the likelihood increases dramatically during the summer, especially between 10:00 and 14:00. And UV radiation reaches its peak at noon.

Unfortunately, clouds block visible sunlight better than ultraviolet light, so you can get burned even on a cloudy day.

In some cases - for unclear reasons - clouds can even increase the amount of ultraviolet light reaching the surface.

If you are at a high altitude, then the likelihood of getting burns is much higher, because in this case, solar radiation does not need to break through the entire atmospheric layer to reach you.

There are other factors that can increase your risk of burns. For example, when you are near snow, water, white sand, or other material that reflects UV, you are more exposed to radiation.

How to prevent burns

The answer is banal. Wear sunscreen. This will prevent not only sunburn, but also significantly reduce the risk of cancer cells.

Although with sunscreens, everything is not so simple. There is evidence that the active chemicals in the creams have side effects and can lead to poisoning. Therefore, today the opinion is very popular that the best protection is creams based on minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Yet most dermatologists tend to believe that there are more benefits than potential harm from chemical-based sunscreens. Dermatologists also recommend using creams with a wide spectrum of protection (protection against UV-A and UV-B) and an SPF of at least 30.

What is SPF in sunscreens

SPF is a measure of how long a cream is able to maintain its protective properties. That is, if the skin burns out in 10 minutes without a cream, then a cream with an SPF of 30 can increase this interval to 300 minutes.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that SPF is a logarithmic indicator and after reaching a certain point (about 30), a further increase in this value is unlikely to add additional protection.

How to use sunscreen

Experts recommend applying the cream at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. It is worth repeating the procedure every two hours or immediately after you sweat or bathe. Of course, there are a number of waterproof creams, but the rest are either washed off or lose their properties.

What to do if you are already burned

The first is to hide from the sun to prevent further damage and enable the body to trigger a healing mechanism.

Second, you can take a cold shower or use a moisturizer and anti-itch product to relieve pain. If the pain is severe, it is okay to take pain relievers.

Important! There is no evidence that aloe vera is the best treatment for burns.

Another good tip is if you get burned, drink plenty of water. Sunburns are often accompanied by dehydration.

Sunburns begin to heal after a few days. It gets better after a couple of weeks. Still, it is worth remembering that cells with damaged DNA molecules accumulate and the more often you sunbathe or burn, the higher your risk of developing cancer.

Be careful in the sun!