Are you Sun Safe?

What is Ultraviolet Radiation ?

Ultraviolet Radiation
Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light. UV light is found in sunlight.

The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation in the UVA, UVB, and UVC bands, but because of absorption in the atmospheres ozone layer, 98.7% of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is UVA.
Most people are aware of the effects of UV through the painful condition of sunburn.

UVA
UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and works more efficiently. The intensity of UVA radiation is more constant than UVB without the variations during the day and throughout the year. UVA is also not filtered by glass. A tanning bed emits ultraviolet radiation (typically 95% UVA and 5% UVB, +/-3%) used to produce a cosmetic TAN.

UVB
UVB affects the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, and is the primary agent responsible for sunburns. It is the most intense between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm when the sunlight is brightest. It is also more intense in the summer months accounting for 70% of a person's yearly UVB dose. UVB does not penetrate glass.

UVC
UVC radiation is almost completely absorbed by the ozone layer and does not affect the skin.

UV Damage
Both UVA and UVB destroy vitamin A in skin which may cause further damage. In the past, UVA was considered less harmful, but today it is known that it can contribute to skin cancer via indirect DNA damage UVB light can cause direct DNA damage.

UV Index
The UV index is an international standard measurement of how strong the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is at a particular place on a particular day. Its purpose is to help people to effectively protect themselves from UV light.

TODAYS UV Index

McKinney

Dallas

Effects of UV Exposure
Sunburn Eye Damage Skin Damage

Sunburn
Sunburn develops when the amount UV exposure is greater than the protection than your skins melanin can provide.

Protection
Sunscreen doesnt offer 100% protection SPF 30+ blocks out 98% of UV; SPF 15+ blocks out 93% In addition to sunscreen, wear a hat, sunglasses, more clothing, seek shade.

Eye Damage
Long hours in the SUN with no eye protection may increase your chance of developing cataracts. UVB damage to the eyes is cumulative so it is never to late to start protecting your eyes.

Protection

Sunglass offer excellent protection Make sure the lenses are designed to block out 95% of UV.

Skin Damage
Estimates of Melanoma are about 68,720 new cases of skin cancer in the U.S in 2009, resulting in about 8,650 deaths. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases. But it causes most skin cancer deaths. Skin cancer is the most common of cancers and is largely preventable.

Protection
Clothes that cover. You wont get to hot or uncomfortable in lightweight fabrics like cotton or linen. Most cotton and cotton/polyester fabric protect against 95% of UV rays.

Sources
www.Weather.com www.wikepedia.com www.webmd.com www.cancer.org