How The Sun’s UV Rays Give You Wrinkles & Skin Cancer

June 30, 2015

Yes, you’ve heard the importance of wearing a sunblock time and again in the light of protecting your skin from the damage of sun. But while the dynamics of how a sunblock works against the harmful UV radiation is known, little was identified in the mechanism of how sun causes skin cancer.

According to a study published in The Society for Investigative Dermatology journal, scientists from Newcastle University, UK have documented for the first time the DNA damage which occurs in the skin from the full range of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, leading to skin cancer.

Skin Aging: How Does The Sun Do It
Our skin ages due to the constant exposure to sunlight. The UVA and UVB rays from the sun collectively, penetrate cells and increase the number of damaging free radicals, especially the reactive oxygen species.

Too many reactive oxygen species are harmful as they damage the DNA within our cells. Over time, this pools up to accumulation of extreme DNA damage, particularly in mitochondria—the batteries of the cells—which speed up aging and destroy the skin’s supportive fibers, collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles. The reactive oxygen is also known to initiate and exacerbate the development of skin cancers.

This study provides new insights in the mechanism of damage done to skin and is therefore of particular importance to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries who can devise new strategies for developing more effective sunscreen lotions.

Another recent study have also joined the dots between UV rays and fertility and claiming that over exposure to sun during pregnancy months can induce birth defects in the offspring while also affecting your fertility.

Protect Yourself Against Sun Damage
There’s an overwhelming amount of sun protection products available in the market, but very little is known about which one would suit you best. Here’s how you can make your own screening solutions to avoid sun damage.

From Inputs from IANS.

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