People who have spent their time in quarantine, pale and hungry for the sun, begin to venture out onto the streets, lawns and, if they are lucky, the beaches, to enjoy the sunshine and get their first, preferably bronze, but more often red, tan. Or simply – to get sunburned. Everyone is familiar with the unpleasant burning and itching sensation that occurs after just a few hours of exposure to the sun. Yes, it’s not scary at first, and why not endure it, because the reward is chocolate skin (again, if you’re lucky and it doesn’t peel off sooner and turn you into a not-so-graceful leopard). They also say that sunbathing is beneficial, that ultraviolet light kills bacteria, helps the body produce vitamin D, and regulates circadian rhythms. All of this is true, but it’s called radiation for a reason. In reality, it is nothing more than sunburn, which causes significant damage to the body at the cellular level.
Sunlight is electromagnetic waves, and after passing through space and the Earth’s atmosphere, we ultimately receive two types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. (There is also far and extreme ultraviolet, but these rays are mostly blocked by the atmosphere). UVA rays will most likely not cause a burn, but they will penetrate deep into the skin and over time, such radiation will have a cumulative effect in the form of sagging skin. UVB rays carry more energy and their effects are immediately noticeable as redness and itching.
In general, ultraviolet radiation damages the skin by hitting molecules of DNA, proteins, fats, and so on. When these molecules absorb too much solar energy, intramolecular bonds are broken, the molecular structure changes, and previously stable cells, in which molecules had a specific shape and performed specific tasks, break apart. This can lead to the breaking of the DNA code and the cessation of the production of necessary proteins. Fortunately, every cell has an army of molecular proofreaders that can step in and repair the damaged section of DNA. Unfortunately, autorepair systems are physically unable to handle damage of this magnitude when actively irradiating the entire skin surface. When the damage to the cell becomes critical, it triggers the mechanism of apoptosis, or self-destruction. It sounds harsh, but without it, too many crippled cells will accumulate in your skin, and the skin will cease to perform its functions – with very sad consequences for the whole organism. This creates a kind of vicious cycle: there is a self-destruct code embedded in your DNA, but if that particular piece of DNA is damaged or cannot be repaired, apoptosis is not triggered and the cell begins to grow uncontrollably. This is often how cancer, or carcinoma, develops.
You have probably noticed that inflammation and itching do not occur immediately, but after a few hours of exposure to the sun. This is because the process of self-destruction of damaged cells does not start immediately: first they accumulate in your skin, then the immune system kicks in, and only then… White blood cells rush to areas of the skin where dead and dying cells have accumulated, and they begin to actively cleanse the body of dead cell fragments. Your capillaries expand and start letting fluid through their walls: this is a natural process, but your skin becomes red, itchy, and painful. Several hours pass, the cleansing is complete and everything returns to normal, except that your skin begins to produce melanin – the pigment responsible for blocking ultraviolet rays and giving your skin the tan you want.
Of course, a sunburn will not kill you, at least not immediately. However, every time you get sunburned, your cells suffer from the sun’s rays, especially at the DNA level, and sooner or later this can lead to cancer. So why not sunbathe at all? No, why not, you just have to do everything in moderation. If you know you burn easily in the sun, or if you have just arrived at a resort and are scaring people with your pale body, try wearing a long-sleeved shirt or dress, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat for the first few days. It is obvious that you cannot completely hide from the sun, and it is not necessary, because there are also sunscreens. Usually they are divided by SPF factors from 15 to 50 or even 75, protecting the skin at least 95-99.5% from both types of ultraviolet rays for at least half an hour.
At the same time, of course, it is necessary to thoroughly cover the entire surface of the skin with cream, wait until it is well absorbed, renew the coverage every two hours, and if you have decided to swim (many note that the sun tan catches you stronger and faster in water), then make sure that your cream is waterproof. If you follow these basic rules, you will most likely get a great even tan without any unpleasant sensations and, most importantly, without any long-term damage to your health.