Before you bask at the beach, we’ve got news for you: The best time to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays is now when you’re a kid not later. Why? Because dermatologists think that two-thirds of sun damage is done before you reach your 18th birthday.
We put our burning questions to Jonathan T. Wolfe, a dermatologist with the University of Pennsylvania. Here are his tips on how to block the sun and still have fun:
KidNews: What is a sunburn? Why is it harmful?
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JT: A sunburn is your skin’s reaction to too much sun, too quickly. It is a sign of acute skin damage. Amazingly, the skin repairs itself with time. However, after repeated sunburns, the skin begins to tire and is unable to repair itself as efficiently, leading to problems.
KN: What’s the difference between UVA and UVB rays?
JT: Sunlight is divided into ranges called wavelengths. Ultraviolet light, which includes UVA and UVB, is part of the light that we cannot see directly.
UVB makes up about 1 percent of the UV that reaches the Earth because most is blocked by the ozone. That is good, because UVB is associated with much of the damage caused to humans by sun exposure.
UVA makes up about 99 percent of the UV reaching the Earth. It is largely unaffected by the ozone. Although not as strong as UVB, it, too, can be very damaging to the skin.$f
KN: So what’s my best protection against sun damage?
JT: Keep covered as much as possible. Use sunscreens and reapply them often. Wear a hat. Avoid “high noon sun” around 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
KN: How do sunscreens protect me? And what Sun Protection Factor or SPF should I wear?
JT: Sunscreens block the UV from reaching the skin. They act as a filter. Remember that the filter still allows sun to get through but at a much slower pace. Therefore, sunscreens allow you to stay outside for longer periods of time. But if you stay outside for four hours due to a sunscreen instead of one hour, ultimately you are getting the same amount of light and skin damage.
An SPF of 15 or more is needed for all sunscreens.
KN: I’m pale. Why do I burn more easily?
JT: We all have cells in our skin that make pigment (color). These pigment cells,” when slowly exposed to sun, protect the skin by releasing more color. The result is a tan, which is the skin’s protection mechanism.
Those who are pale have pigment cells that make less of this protective mechanism. Therefore, because the natural protection is less, the cells are damaged easier, and this is why they burn more.