Skin cancer can be caused by damage to the skin due to UV. The rate of skin cancer in Britain has increased in the last decades as foreign trips have become more common.
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After spending the winter season in lockdown and with the introduction of the removal of Coronavirus restrictions across the UK, many people will be expecting good weather this summer. The ban on traveling abroad means that more people than ever are planning to stay in the UK for their summer holidays. With this change, now our social life will be spent outside most of the time. In such a situation, it is especially important that people in Britain do not underestimate the risks arising from the rays of the sun when they get out of their homes after months.
Damage to the skin due to the sun is associated with skin cancer and wrinkles on the skin before age. Its relation is ultraviolet light (UV). UV is invisible to the human eye, although it can be seen by many animals, including reindeer. Ultraviolet radiation is located behind the last violet tip of the spectrum of light seen.
Why are ultraviolet rays dangerous?
One of the reasons it is so harmful is that its energy can be absorbed by the DNA of our cells, due to which these cells get damaged. If the cell is not able to repair this DNA damage, it can cause genetic changes or mutations that can cause cancer. Being on the surface of the body, skin cells suffer more damage than UV.
The body has its own safety net to protect against these harmful effects. The molecular mechanisms within our cells are capable of detecting and repairing DNA damage before causing mutations. When skin cells detect DNA damage, they activate alarm signals that reach the pigment-producing cells to start producing more pigment to help protect them from further damage. .
It is the production of this pigment, melanin, which causes the skin to get burnt, so the scorching of the skin is a sign that your skin is damaged. The protection provided by it is estimated to be approximately 4 SPF. This means that although it will take four times longer in the sun to do this, your skin can still get scorched.
Intelligence of cells protects
If you are exposed to too many trans-violet rays, the amount of DNA damage can affect the protection of cells. Not everything is gone, however, because a damaged cell has a final line of defense where it can select the process of termination by activating a ‘death program’, known as apoptosis. This means that severely damaged cells, which can later become cancerous, are eliminated before they harm the body.
Anyone who has ever had sunburn has experienced this process. The death of large amount of cells causes the skin to swell, causing the skin to become completely red and painful, but sometimes these defenses are not enough. Skin damage due to UV can cause skin cancer. The rate of skin cancer in the UK has increased over the last decades as foreign trips have become more common and attitudes towards tanning have changed.
Cases of increased skin cancer in Britain
Surprisingly, a recent study showed that skin cancer is eight times more common today than in the 1980s. What should we do now because we are all praying for a wonderful summer season. However, it is true that the intensity of para-violet rays is not as high in Britain as in the Mediterranean or other low-latitude tourist destinations.
The country is now about to enter the months where UV intensity is at its peak. It is important to note that it is still possible in the UK to be exposed to the harmful effects of UV in and around homes, especially for children or white people whose skin is easily scorched or freckled.
Take special care of these things
After months of lockdown, many people are desperate to get out in the sun, but it is important not to stay in the sun for too long. It can be quite difficult to detect how much intensity of UV you are exposed to, as the UV level can be very high even on days when the sky is cloudy. You can also protect yourself by keeping the UV index information. The UV index is a measure of how sharp the UV rays are every day.
This will help you know whether you need to use hats, clothes and sunscreen with a broad protection of SPF 20 or above for sun protection. This protection shield depends on how long you will be outside. Between 11 am and 3 pm, it is a good idea to take extra care of yourself when the heat of the sun is at its peak. Taking some such simple precautions means that everyone can safely enjoy the sun when the lockdown ends.
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