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2020-01-13 14:43:55
With summer around the corner, it is important to be
prepared and to remember the risks of over-exposure to the sun but also the benefits
of a moderate exposure.
How much
sun do I need?
According to researchers from the Solar Radiation Research
Group at Polytechnic University of Valencia, during spring and summer time only 10 to 20 minutes under the sun exposure is
needed to get the recommended doses of vitamin D. During the winter months,
almost 2
hours is required, it is then for
a lot of people, difficult to achieve their vitamin D’s needs.
Nevertheless, the time spent under the sun may widely vary
depending on your skin color. There is a pigment, the melanin, which will
determine the color of our skin. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you will
have. The melanin works as a natural sunscreen and protects the skin from
sunlight.
What are the risks?
The sun produces powerful rays of light
that are good but can also be bad to us. These are known as ultraviolet
rays (UV).
Actually, there are 3
different types of UV rays:
UVA UVB and UVC.
UVA rays: the most common form of sun exposure.
UVB rays: make up less sun exposure but more intense.
UVC rays: the most dangerous - blocked by the earth’s ozone layer.
While UVA rays
cause dark patches, wrinkles, loose skin and premature aging, UVB rays is the one responsible for sunburns and eye
problems. UVA and UVB rays
both cause DNA
damage, which greatly increases skin cancer risk.
RISKS
- Dark patches
- Wrinkles
- Loose skin
- Premature aging
- Sunburns
- Eye problems
- Skin cancer
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