By Claire Witschger, PharmD, RPh
Pharmacy Resident, Blanchard Valley Health System
With the summer months in full swing, school is out and vacations have started to take place. As we enjoy the warmer weather, it is important to remember the importance of sun safety. While the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be beneficial for vitamin D synthesis and can increase mood, it is also responsible for numerous damaging effects on the human skin. Some of the effects of unprotected sun exposure include sunburn, early skin aging and skin cancer. With these risks, The American Academy of Dermatology recommends sunscreen and sun safety practices to reduce the harmful effects of UV exposure.
The two different types of UV rays are UVA and UVB. It is estimated that up to 95% of the ultraviolet rays that reach the earth are UVA; this radiation leads to skin aging, darkening of skin pigmentation and skin cancer. The other 5% of ultraviolet radiation is caused by UVB radiation; this type of radiation leads to sunburns, inflammation and skin cancer. Ways to avoid excessive sun exposure include avoiding midday sun when possible (between 10:00 a.m. and 4:-- p.m.); wearing light-colored, protective clothing to cover exposed skin; using window films that block UV rays for cars and homes; and wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen.
