Exposure to UV rays can cause skin and eye damage.
Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays is a leading cause of skin cancer, a disease that kills one American every hour and 65,000 people worldwide each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. While some exposure to UV rays may bring health benefits, excessive exposure can weaken your immune system and lead to serious skin and eye diseases.
Sunburn
The sun's rays are most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is high in the sky and UV rays are the strongest. Even on a cloudy day, nearly 90 percent of UV light can penetrate through the clouds, putting you at risk of developing a sunburn, MayoClinic.com notes. Your body protects itself from UV light by producing more melanin, the dark pigment in the outer layer of skin that creates a "tan." However, for most people, especially those with pale skin or blond, light brown or red hair, the protection is not enough. The result is a sunburn that may cause pain, swelling, redness, blisters, headache, fever and fatigue. Melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer, is linked to severe sunburns during childhood.
Premature Aging and Solar Keratoses
Exposure to the sun over time can cause your skin to lose elasticity and appear leathery, thick and wrinkled. According to the EPA, the sun is responsible for up to 90 percent of skin changes as you age. That may also include solar or actinic keratoses, a condition characterized by rough and dry skin lesions or precancerous skin growths from intense exposure to sunlight. The growths or lesions often develop on sun-exposed areas, including the face, hands, ears, forearms, scalp and chest.
Skin Cancer
Each year in the U.S., doctors diagnose more than 1.2 million new cases of skin cancer, a figure that exceeds new cases of other cancers in some parts of the world, the Sun Safety Alliance notes. Exposure to UV rays from the sun and other sources such as tanning beds is the primary cause of skin cancer. A 2006 review of 19 studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found indoor tanning increased the risk of melanoma by 75 percent when young adults began using a tanning bed before age 35.
Eye Damage
Chronic sun exposure may cause cataracts. UV radiation increases the risk of certain cataracts, an eye condition that causes clouded or blurry vision and can lead to blindness. According to the WHO, about 5 percent of cataracts are the result of UV radiation exposure. Researchers have also linked overexposure to UV radiation to macular degeneration, a disease that slowly reduces sharp vision; pingueculae and pterygia, eye growths resulting in distorted vision; and photokeratitis, or inflammation of the cornea.
Immune System Suppression
Extensive sun exposure may weaken your immune system by altering the activity and structure of your body's cells and natural defenses. This reduces your body's ability to protect itself against foreign invaders, making you more susceptible to illness and disease.
Allergic Reaction
In some people, exposure to UV rays may trigger an allergic reaction that causes hives, blisters, bumps or red blotches on the skin. Certain medications, including antibiotics, birth control pills, and medications to treat depression, arthritis and high blood pressure, may increase your sensitivity to the sun, causing you to develop a rash.
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