As the weather continues heating up, remember to protect your skin! Put on your sunscreen! Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can do serious damage to multiple skin layers.

There are two types of UV rays to be aware of, UVA and UVB. UVA makes up 95% of the sun’s rays and penetrates deeper layers of the skin. It is more closely associated with premature skin aging, like wrinkling. UVB only makes up 5% of the Sun’s rays and is more intense. Typically, these rays only reach and damage the outermost layers of the skin, causing sunburn.

It is important to note that BOTH forms, UVA and UVB, damage the skin to the point of disrupting DNA, resulting in genetic defects and mutations that can lead to cancer. Another thing to consider is UV rays can reflect off of lightly colored surfaces (water, sand, concrete), still leaving you at a risk of exposure. Here is a short list conditions associated with sun-damaged skin:

Photoaging
Actinic Keratosis
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant melanoma

The conversation of protecting against UV rays often mentions that Black and Brown people do not need to be as worried about sun burns or sun damage due to having higher amounts of melanin in their skin. This is true to an extent given that the protection from melanin is quantified by time. Those with lighter and fairer skin tones can begin to experience sun damage in as little as 10 minutes. Melanin in Black and Brown individuals protect against UV rays for up to 50-60 minutes. Therefore, they can experience the same sun damage after an hour of sun exposure.

Hence, regardless of skin tone, put on your sunscreen!

Your skin will thank you with a nice summer glow.