Risks of Overexposure to Sunlight – Protect Your Skin

The sun is the source of all life. In ancient times, we worshipped the sun. Well, now we don’t do that anymore. However, the importance of the sun in our lives cannot be discounted. At the same time, the sun gives off rays that can help and harm us. Known as ultraviolet (UV) rays, they are of three different kinds - UVA, UVB and UVC.

UVA rays are the most generic form of sun exposure. UVB rays cause less exposure but are more intense. UVC rays are the worst. Thankfully, we are not at risk of UVC rays because the ozone layer blocks them.

Sunburn

When the skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet light from the sun or artificial sources, like tanning beds, the skin’s melanin can’t protect it, and we get sunburnt. People who have light skin, freckles, blue eyes or red or blond hair are more likely to get sunburnt. Spending too much time in sunny, warm or high altitudes or working outdoors increases the risk of sunburns.

Wet skin burns more easily than dry skin, so swimming outdoors or spraying your skin with water or baby oil can increase your risk of getting sunburnt. When it comes to adverse sun exposure effects, sunburn comes first.

Increased Risk of Skin Cancer

In terms of the risks of being overexposed to sunlight, skin cancer is probably the worst possible thing that can happen to you. UV rays damage skin cells, leading to cancer over a period of time. According to multiple research, people with pale skin, red or blonde hair and green or blue eyes are more likely to develop skin cancer. The risk of developing skin cancer increases with each sunburn, especially during childhood, adolescence or adulthood.

Other factors that can increase the skin cancer risk include a weakened immune system or taking drugs to prevent organ or bone marrow rejection. Exposure to some chemicals like coal tar, creosote, soot, petroleum products or arsenic can increase the incidence of skin cancer.

Premature Skin Ageing

The harmful effects of UV rays can be felt by the skin. UV rays break down collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging, which in turn cause premature ageing. Although many other factors can cause premature ageing, exposure to UV rays remains the most important one.

Another issue that this can cause is loss of skin tone and altered pigmentation. Other factors that damage the skin include smoking, a poor diet and drinking too much alcohol, which can dehydrate the skin, resulting in premature ageing.

Eye Damage

Apart from sunburn and skin damage, the sun also messes with the eyes. UV damage can completely destroy your eyesight. It can cause multiple complications and painful conditions. It causes keratitis or inflammation of the cornea that can result in sudden eye pain, blurred vision and tearing. Then there is pinguecula or pterygium, which are growths on the eye caused by long-term exposure to UV light.

Dehydration

Long-term effects of sun exposure include dehydration because it increases the loss of fluid from the body through sweating, which can impair bodily function. Dehydration due to prolonged sun or heat exposure can result in heat exhaustion. Remember that advertisement where the sun was literally sucking out water from a boy’s body through a straw? Yeah, that’s probably the best way to show how dehydration due to over-exposure to the sun works.

This happens because the body’s core temperature goes above 98.6°c but not above 104°.8c. It usually happens on hot, humid days when you overexert yourself. Other factors that result in dehydration include alcohol and caffeine.

Weak Immune System

UV rays suppress the immune system, making the body susceptible to infections and bringing down the skin’s ability to protect itself from pathogens. UV radiation can mess with your immune system, damaging DNA and resulting in UV-mediated immunosuppression.

UV rays also trap damaging immune cells in lymph nodes, stopping them from entering the brain and spinal cord. While getting sunburnt initially increases immune activity, it later suppresses the immune system for a period of time. Therefore, to prevent sun damage, you must be careful of UV rays.

Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially when it’s hot, can cause heatstroke or heat exhaustion. The symptoms of this include nausea, confusion, fainting and dizziness, conditions that can become life-threatening without proper treatment. Because of heat stroke, your body temperature can rise to 104°F (40°C) or higher.

Your skin becomes hot, red, dry or damp. Your mental state deteriorates, and you experience confusion, delirium, agitation, slurred speech, irritability or loss of consciousness. There is profuse sweating, your breathing becomes rapid and shallow, and your pulse races. Other symptoms include headache, muscle twitching, seizures or coma.

Well, that does it for the ill effects of overexposure to sunlight. From sunburn and heat exhaustion, to heat stroke, a weak immune system, dehydration, eye damage, premature skin aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer, the harmful effects are many. Stay away from direct sunlight and do yourself a huge favour. Your body will thank you for it.