sun rays

EFFECTS OF THE SUN RAYS

The sun is the energy source that sustains to all life on

earth.
The sun’s rays are radiations that comes from the sun. This
radiation is important for life on Earth because it keeps our
planet warm. However , too much exposure to the Sun’s
rays can be harmful to your skin.
The Sun can give people energy in a couple ways. When
sunshine warms your body it is giving you some heat energy
through radiation. The most important way the sun gives us
energy is through the food we eat. Plants can convert the
suns energy into food for itself, which we can eat. In fact, all
the food we eat is relies somehow on the sun.
GOOD AND BAD
HARMS:
BENEFITS: • Suntan
• Heat • Sunburn
• Premature aging
• Light • Freckles
• warmth • Liver spots
• Outdoor environment • Wrinkles
for physical activity • Loss of elasticity
• Production of • Cataracts
vitamin D synthesis • Suppression of immune system
• Actinic keratosis
• Happy and positive • Skin cancer
feelings • Photosensitivity
• Kills pathogens • Immune System Change
• Phototherapy • Eye Damage
• Vision
 STRATEGY #1:
 KNOW YOUR PERSONAL RISK
Outdoors workers receive up to 8 times more UV than indoors workers and have a 60%
greater risk of developing skin cancer.

Personal Risk Equation = Personal Risk Factors

Your risk of getting harmed from sun exposure is the sum of 3 components:

Who You Are (GENETICS) Where You Live (ENVIRONMENT) What You Do (BEHAVIOR)

-- Lighter skin, hair and --High Altitude, Low Latitude --Unprotected time
eyes Sunny Climate, Ground Reflection outdoors
-- Family history of skin --Especially in midday
peak
cancer sun intensity hours

GREATER RISK!
GENETIC HIGH RISK
FACTORS
Where Do You
Live?
• Blond or red hair • 300+ days of sunshine
• Blue, green or gray each year
eyes • High elevation
• Fair skin • Outdoor-oriented
• Skin that freckles lifestyle
and burns easily • Low rate of sun
• Many moles; large protection
moles • Moderate to high UV
• Family members with March through October
melanoma (High = April to Sept)
WHAT DO YOU DO?
• Do you stay out all day in
the sun without protection?
• Do you sunbathe to get a
tan?
• Do you sunburn?
• Do you go to a tanning
salon?
 STRATEGY #2:
 HOW SUN DAMAGES THE SKIN
At least 90% of skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation.

ELECROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
SKIN
 HARMFUL EFFECT OF THE SUN

• Excessive heat from the sun can burn our skin. Our skin get red
and becomes painful. This condition is called SUNBURN.
Continuous overexposure to sunlight may even lead to skin
cancer.

• Too much exposure to the sun’s rays may result in headache and
nosebleed.

• We shouldn’t look directly to the sun, it can make us temporarily

blind.

• The sun’s heat and the warmth air us perspire a lot. Too much
perspiration can make us lose much water. This may result lead
to dehydration, which often results from overexposure to the sun.
SKIN CANCER FORMATION
• UVA and UVB rays hit the epidermis
• DNA in skin cells begins to break down
• To fend off damage, skin produces
melanin, proof of DNA damage
• The immune system kicks into gear and
tries to repair damaged cells
• More sun exposure hampers the repair
• Damaged cells can mutate into skin
cancer
TYPES OF SKIN CANCERS
SQUAMOUS
BASAL CELL CELL

MELANOMA
 STRATEGY # 3:
 REDUCE YOUR UV EXPOSURE
Regular UV protection can reduce skin cancer risk by 80%

 LIMIT TIME IN THE

SUN
 WEAR COVER-UP
CLOTHING
 USE SUN SCREEN
CHECK THE UV INDEX
 LIMIT TIME IN THE SUN

• Schedule outdoor activities around intense

midday hours (10 am to 4 pm).
• Seek shade or go inside when you can.
• Shade can reduce UV by 75%.
• Eat lunch inside or in the
• shade.
• Use portable shade cover.
• Car window glass blocks UVB but not all UVA
• Clouds block only 20%-40% of UV
 WEAR COVER-UP CLOTHING
• Clothing can block 100% of UVA and UVB.
• Wear clothing that covers
a large amount of your skin.
• Long-sleeved shirts and
long pants are best.
• Choose fabrics with a tight weave that allows little
or no light to pass through.
• Darker colors absorb UV better.
• Use long-sleeve clothes when working under the
sun to avoid too much exposure to the sun’s rays.
 UPF AND SPF

UPF = Ultraviolet Protection Factor

SPF = Sun Protection Factor
MED= Minimal
Erythema
MED with sun protection Dose
MED without sun protection

• The higher the UPF the more UV that blocked.

• SPF is the measure of UVB protection, not a measure of UVA
protection.
HAT AS SUN PROTECTION

Choose WIDE-BRIMMED HAT!

But, any HAT is better than NO HAT!

HAT AND UMBRELLA AS SUN
PROTECTION
• Use hat, an umbrella or any cover for the
head to protect you from the sun’s rays when
your going outside.
• Much better also to stay indoors if possible.
• It reduce the heat of the sun you are
receiving.
• To avoid also the headache because of the
too much penetration of the sun.
 WEAR SUNGLASSES
• The eye absorbs >99% of UV.
• UV rays can cause cataracts, macular
degeneration, blindness & melanoma of the eye.
• Select and wear large sunglasses that
block 99-100% of UV rays.
• Look for lenses that meet ANSI Z80.3.
• Lenses don’t have to be dark.
• Lenses don’t have to be expensive.
• Use sunglasses to minimize the UV rays radiation
and protects from sun’s heat.
 WHEN TO USE SUNGLASSES ?
• During summer
• Around noon
• On the beach or boating
• When using medication which may act as
a photosensitizer.
• When working outside like traffic enforcer,
road widener, line man, farmer,
construction workers and etc.
  USE SUNSCREEN

• Choose SPF 15 or more.

• Use sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB.
• Apply 15-30 minutes prior to sun
exposure.
• Apply over all exposed skin.
• Don’t rub it in too hard – it reduces
effectiveness by at least 25%.
• Reapply at least every two hours, or
more often after swimming or sweating.
AUSTRALIAN RADIATION PROTECTION AND
NUCLEAR SAFETY AGENCY…
“Reapply regularly, but remember that reapplication only
keeps up the protection of the first application, it doesn't give
you extra protection.”

“If applying sunscreen of SPF 15+ gives you 2 hours in the

sun without burning, then reapplying the sunscreen after 2
hours does not protect you for another 2 hours. You have
already received a sunburn dose after the first 2 hours!”
DON’T FORGET YOUR BEAUTIFUL LIPS!

• Use lip balm with SPF 15 or higher

• It’s sunscreen for your lips

• Most lipsticks contain titanium dioxide and

have about an SPF 8
 VITAMIN D
• Vitamin D sufficiency is important for overall good health.
Most people can satisfy the body’s requirement for vitamin
D from casual exposure to sunlight.
10-15 minutes of sun exposure twice a week to the
face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen is usually
sufficient to provide adequate vitamin D.

• Obese, darker skinned and older people can be at risk for

vitamin D deficiency, but consumption of fortified milk or
orange juice will provide the necessary amount of vitamin
D.
 STRATEGY # 4:
 PRACTICE EARLY DETECTION
At least 95% of skin cancer can be cured if detected early
CHECK YOUR BIRTHDAY SUIT
Look for changes in spots, moles or sores that
don’t heal.
Use the ABCD rule for moles:
A = Asymmetry: One half of the mole or birthmark
doesn’t match the other.
B = Border: The edges are ragged, irregular, or
poorly defined.
C = Color: The color varies from one area to
another and may have differing shades of brown,
black, white, red or blue.
D = Diameter: The area is larger than 6 mm
(about the size of a pencil eraser) and is growing
larger.
Report unusual findings to your doctor.
HOW TO PERFORM MONTHLY SKIN CHECK?
• Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then right
and left sides arms raised.
• Bend elbows and look carefully at forearms and upper
underarms and palms
• Look at the backs of the legs and feet; spaces between
toes and sole.
• Examine back of neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part
hair for a closer look.
• Finally, check back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
• Consult a physician immediately if you have any doubt
about a mole or changing spot on your skin.
• Better also to consult to a Dermatologist.
 SUMMARY
• EVERYONE needs to be safe from the sun.
• Some UV exposure is healthy, but avoid
sunburns and suntans
• Limit your unprotected time in the sun
• Find sunglasses or polarized sunglasses
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
• Wear sun safe clothing, hats & eyewear
• Do not use tanning lamps
• Check if your skin have changes.
• Consult to the Dermatologist if possible.