10 Things You Need to Know for UV Safety Month

We all know we’re supposed to wear sunscreen and that the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer, but what are UV Rays really? How do they damage the skin? And how does the scientific community measure them?

UV Safety Month

July is UV Safety Month. This awareness campaign, started by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, spreads the word about how important it is to protect your skin from the harmful effect of the sun’s UV Rays.

1. The Definition of UV Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation, often abbreviated as UV radiation, is an electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun some artificial sources. The wavelength of UV radiation ranges from 10 nm (30PHz) to 400 nm (750 THz). To put that in perspective, they are shorter than that of visible light but longer than X-rays.

You hear about UV radiation oftentimes because it is a major cause of sunburn, as well as some other nasty side effects. However, UV Rays only make up a small fraction of the sun’s radiation. 99% of the sun’s rays are made up of visible light. That leaves just 1% for both UV Rays and infrared rays (also known as heat). UV radiation has both UVA and UVB Rays.

2. The Discovery of UV Radiation

The next thing you need to know about UV Rays is how they’ve been measured throughout history. Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have understood the importance of the sun. However, they didn’t always know exactly how it worked. Discovering UV radiation was a gradual task that spanned three centuries and involved multiple scientists from all over the world.

In 1801, Ritter noticed that invisible rays just beyond the violet end of the spectrum were very effective at darkening silver chloride-soaked paper. He called them “deoxidizing rays,” but these are what we know as UV Rays today.

Studies in the 1840s explored the wavelengths and by the early 20th century, new discoveries in photochemistry and photophysics improved both theoretical and empirical understandings.

By the 1920s, the existence of UV radiation, its properties, and relationship to sunlight was well established. It was a long process, to say the least.

3. The UV Index

Ozone depletion prompted scientists in the 1980s and 1990s to develop a method to measure UV radiation. While many different groups were attempting to develop a “sunburn index,” a group of Environment Canada scientists developed the modern UV index in 1992. By 1994, The UN’s World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization adopted and standardized the scale. Today, it’s primarily used in daily forecasts and to help people effectively protect themselves from UV radiation.

The UV index is an open-ended linear scale that is directly proportional to the intensity of UV radiation that causes sunburn on human skin. The scale starts at 0 and goes to 11+

· Green: A UV Index reading of 0 to 2 means low danger from the sun’s UV rays for the average person

· Yellow: A UV Index reading of 3 to 5 means moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure

· Orange: A UV Index of 6 to 7 means high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Protection against skin and eye damage is needed

· Red: A UV Index reading of 8 to 10 means very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Take extra precautions because unprotected skin and eyes will be damaged and can burn quickly

· Violet: A UV Index reading of 11 or more means extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Take all precautions because unprotected skin and eyes can burn in minutes

3. UV Rays and Skin Cancer

There are rumors out there that say the sun’s rays don’t cause cancer or that skin cancer is no big deal. These are lies.

Each year, over 250,000 Americans develop nonmelanoma skin caners (NMSC). Most skin cancers are a direct result of exposure to UV Rays in sunlight. UV radiation causes mutations in skin cell DNA that results in common skin cancers like basal and squamous cell skin cancer as well as the rarer and more deadly cancer, melanoma. Melanoma kills 8,000 people each year in the U.S. alone. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies UV radiation as “carcinogenic to humans.”

4. More UV Health Impacts

While skin cancer is one of the most well-known health complications UV exposure, there are plenty of other conditions. One of the most common UV safety complications is sunburn. When you get a sunburn, the UV radiation actually kills most of the skin cells in the upper skin layer. More severe sunburns blister and peel. A lesser-known effect of UV radiation on the skin is premature aging. UV rays stimulate cell proliferation in the outer layer of the skin, thickening it, ruining elasticity, and causing wrinkles.

UV radiation also damages eyes. UV Rays cause photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and photoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva). Other common eye issues from UV exposure include cancer of the eye and cataracts — the leading cause of blindness.

Even a tan is not healthy. Believe it or not, the darkening of the skin is shield your body creates with melanin to protect itself from further UV damage.

5. The Artificial UV Emitters

The next thing you need to know is that there are plenty of artificial sources that can do just as much damage as the sun. UV lamps, including the technology used in tanning beds, also use UV radiation. While a lot of people think tanning beds are safe, they are directly linked to skin cancer and other health complications. In fact, according to SkinCancer.org, people who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75%.

You can avoid tanning beds, but if your job involves artificial UV radiation you have a different situation on your hands. Salon workers, laboratory workers, dentists, and lightning technicians are just a few professionals who must worry about UV radiation. UV lamps, arc welding, and mercury vapor lamps all can cause damage.

7. There is a UV Alert

Like other weather alert systems, there is an alert for UV levels in the U.S. and Australia. While both of these countries have different baseline intensity requirements before issuing an alert, their common goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of over-exposure to the sun on days with intense UV radiation. In the U.S., the EPA issues UV Alerts so you know to spend less time in the sun and take other protective measures again UV radiation.

8. Studies Show UV Levels Have Increased

According to a study, UV levels are on the rise. Research on the changes in UV radiation in Australia from 1959–2009 shows a 4% increase in UV radiation levels since the 1990s throughout Australia. They believe that depleting ozone layers have to do with this increase. As the ozone depletes, the atmosphere loses its protective barrier against the sun’s rays.

9. SPF Stands for…

So now that you know so much about UV radiation, it’s time to explore the differences between SPF in sunscreens. What does SPF really mean, though?

SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor.” According to SkinCancer.org, most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. That is because SPF 15 filters out approximately 93% of all incoming UVB Rays. As you go up in SPF number, the percentage of rays filtered out also goes up. SPF 30 keeps of 97% and SPF 50 keeps out 98%.

No sunscreen can block out 100% of UV radiation. It’s also important to note that broad-spectrum sunscreens are the only sunscreens that help filter both UVA and UVB Rays.

10. How to Protect Yourself

It’s almost UV Safety Month: Protect yourself. Here are some things you can do to minimize the sun’s effect on your skin and eyes this summer and all-year long.

Sunscreen tips:

· Wear SPF 15 sunscreen or higher every day

· Reapply sunscreen at least once every 2 hours

· Apply 1 oz. of sunscreen every time you apply

· Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure

· Use sunscreen even if it’s cloudy or cold

· Use a SPF that suits your skin type. The fairer you are, the higher SPF you need

· Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months old

· Use sunscreen if you work indoors near windows

Other tips:

· Cover your body with tightly-woven clothing that blocks light

· Use wide brimmed hats to cover your eyes and face

· Wear sunglasses with UV protection

· Sit in the shade when you can

· Pay attention to medication and creams and if they make you more susceptible to UV rays