Did you know that the sun damage can age our skin faster? It’s real! Ultraviolet rays are very strong sun rays that can reach deep into our skin. They can break down things in our skin that make it look smooth and springy. This can happen for a long time in the sun and make our skin wrinkle, get lines, and even look uneven.
It’s like how toys get old and worn out after being in the sun for too long. Don’t worry, though! We can keep this from taking place. Sunscreen is a type of cream that can help keep our skin safe. It’s not just for the beach; we have to use it every day. The sun can still reach our skin even if it’s dark. That means we need to use sunscreen every day to keep our skin healthy. That will help our face stay young and healthy for a long time!
Sun Damage: A Closer Look
It can hurt our skin to be out in the sun for a long time. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are something that the sun gives off. They can be bad for you. The sun’s rays can burn our skin and make it age faster, or they can give us sunburns that hurt for a short time. They can sometimes even make us more likely to get skin cancer, which is a very bad disease. We need to be careful when we’re outside in the sun!
Signs and Symptoms of Sun Damage
Things can go wrong when the sun is out for a long time. Here are some things that could happen:
- Sunburn: When we spend too much time in the sun, our skin can get sunburned, hurt, and swell up. It can turn red like a tomato. It could happen if we don’t do something about it.
- Uneven pigmentation: Spots that are darker or lighter than the rest of our skin can appear when we spend a lot of time in the sun. It’s like colouring a page with spots on it.
- Crow’s feet and lines: When we spend too much time in the sun, our skin can age more quickly. There may be lines or wrinkles on our faces that weren’t there before.
- Skin that feels rough and dry: If we stay out in the sun for too long, our skin may feel like sandpaper and become very dry. It feels like when the ground cracks because it hasn’t rained in a while.
- Eye damage: Too much time spent in the sun can hurt our eyes. We could have trouble seeing or our eyes could hurt and haze over. It’s like we need sunglasses to keep the sun off our eyes.
- Immune suppression: Our bodies may not be able to fight off germs as well when they get too much sun. When we spend too much time in the sun, our bodies lose some of their superpowers.
How Does Sun Damage Affect Your Skin?
When we play outside in the sun, we need to take care of our face. This is how we can do it:
- Early Ageing: Too much time in the sun can speed up the ageing process of our skin. This means that our skin may start to drop (hang down) and get wrinkles and fine lines. It takes place because the sun’s strong rays damage important parts of our skin.
- Hyperpigmentation: When we spend too much time in the sun, our skin can make too much melanin, a colour. This is called hyperpigmentation. There may be dark spots (like dots) and freckles (those cute spots on some faces). Also, our skin may not be the same colour all over. It’s hard to fix this condition known as discoloration.
- Skin Cancer: When we play outside in the sun, it’s nice, but too much sun can be bad for our skin. It can even give us skin cancer. The sun’s strong rays can damage the DNA in our skin cells. This can cause them to grow in a bad way and turn into cancer. People who spend too much time in the sun can get basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. We don’t want them on our skin because they’re bad.
UVA vs UVB Rays: Understanding the Threat
UVA and UVB are the two types of sun rays. They are caused by the sun and can hurt our skin if we don’t keep it safe. To protect our face, we need to put on sunscreen. Some sunscreens block one type of ray, while others block both. We need to know which sunscreen to use so we can enjoy being outside without getting burned
| Aspect | UVA Rays | UVB Rays |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Longer wavelengths (320-400 nm) | Shorter wavelengths (280-320 nm) |
| Penetration | Penetrates deeper into the skin | Mostly absorbed by the epidermis |
| Intensity | More consistent throughout the day | Peaks during midday hours |
| Seasonality | Present during all daylight hours | More intense in summer |
| Effects on Skin | Contributes to skin aging | Causes sunburn and skin reddening |
| Cancer Risk | Associated with skin aging, wrinkles, and some skin cancers | Major cause of most skin cancers, including melanoma |
| Protection | Needed year-round, even on cloudy days | Most needed during peak sun hours, especially in summer |
What are the ways to stay safe in the Sun every day?
When we play outside in the sun, we need to be careful. The sun can hurt our skin and even make us sick. Don’t worry, though! To stay safe, we can do simple things like:
- Put on certain clothes. Cover your arms and legs, and keep your face hidden under a big hat. Wear clothes that say they will keep you safe from the sun.
- Put on sunglasses: To keep your eyes safe from the sun, put on sunglasses. Look for sunglasses that say they will shield you from the sun’s rays.
- Tan beds can hurt your skin with their strong UV rays, so don’t use them. Use certain creams instead if you want to look tan.
- Check the sun: See how strong the sun is where you live. When you play outside, be extra careful if it’s really windy.
- Stay hydrated: To keep your skin healthy and avoid getting burned by the sun, drink a lot of water.
- Check your skin: Every once in a while, look at your skin to see if anything has changed, like new bumps or spots. If you see something strange, tell an adult.
- Be careful with your lips. Use lip balm to keep them from drying out and protect them from the sun.
What products work best for your sun damage? We’re curious to hear your favorites—let us know in the comments!
