A glossy golden brown tan to set off toned limbs – that’s the stuff which the young fashion-conscious dreams are made of. The pursuit of that bronzed, sun-kissed look has led to an influx of sun worshippers in bikinis, board shorts, and bare chests congregating at the beaches. But just how much do they know about the dangers associated with excessive sun exposure?
A lot of youths are adventurous, fun loving and are passionate about sports. This may just cause them to overlook the necessity of proper sun protection. While many outdoor sports like soccer, wakeboarding, windsurfing etc are undoubtedly beneficial to health, the risks of excessive sun exposure to the participants are also very real.
Sun Damage
The sun emits 3 types of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. Only UVA and UVB rays reach the earth’s surface because UVC is filtered out by the ozone layer.
UVA penetrates deeply into the skin and triggers the production of melanin, which is a pigment in our body that causes skin to tan. UVB primarily affects the skin’s outer layer and causes sunburn. UV rays are thought to be responsible for chronic photo-aging (cluster of skin conditions like hyper pigmentation, wrinkles and sagging skin), and skin cancer.
Sunburn is one of the short-term damages of sun exposure. It ranges from redness and pain to redness and swelling, and in some serious cases, blisters can occur.
Frequent sunburns have been associated with increased risks of getting skin cancers. There are 3 common types of skin cancers: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma.
Most SCC and BCC cases are caused by chronic exposure to sunlight. These tumors appear most commonly on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands, back, shoulders and lower lip. SCC tumors are irregular and fleshy growths that can enlarge and break down into ulcers.
BCC tumors are often shiny and pigmented, with raised borders. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) in New York, USA, estimates that some 800,000 and 200,000 Americans suffer from BCC and SCC annually respectively.
Malignant melanoma is cancer of the skin’s pigment cells. It may form in pre-existing moles, where pigmentation is heavily concentrated. The tumors are presented as large, thick and colored (red, blue or black) patches that grow rapidly, with irregular outlines. The SCF estimates that about 51,000 new cases of malignant melanoma are reported annually in the USA.
On a less fatal note, exposure to bright light can also trigger migraines and headaches, for up to 24 hours. Melasma is another UV-related skin disorder characterized by symmetrical brown pigmentation patches in UV-exposed areas and affects women 90% of the time.
Block Out the Sun
Much as knowledge of sun exposure dangers is important, knowing how to minimize risks is even more essential. Techniques to minimize damage from sun rays can be divided into those to do with behavior and those to do with fabrics.
Behavior wise, sun-lovers can refrain from carrying out high-risk activities between 10am and 4pm, when the sun’s rays are the strongest. On a general note, try to keep in the shade while going about normal activities.
Fabrics that are sun-protective have tight weaves and are dark-colored. To test for a tight weave, hold the garment about 7 inches from your eyes towards a light source. If visible light can penetrate holes between the threads, so can UV rays. Dark colors absorb harmful UV rays better than light-colored clothes and hence protect the skin better.
To protect the face, sunscreen is essential, preferably one with at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 20. Reliable brands include Sunkiller, La Roche-Posay and Coppertone. If sun exposure time is expected to be long, then a sunscreen of higher SPF of 45 or 60 is recommended. One often-neglected directive is to reapply sunscreen frequently throughout the day, as sweat or friction may have washed it away. For the eyes, sunglasses with UV-protective coating are advised.
Alternative Tones
Fashion-conscious youths who covet a tan but are afraid of increasing their skin cancer risks have started to frequent tanning salons. This misguided attempt only reduces the incidence of sunburn and not skin cancer, warns Dr Wong, an associate consultant dermatologist with the National Skin Centre of Singapore.
“In fact, by going to tanning salons, you are exposed to unnecessary excessive UVA, which may increase your risk of getting skin cancer as it is primarily UVA-mediated.”
One relatively harmless alternative to sun tanning is to use self-tanning lotions. These contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts with proteins in dead skin cells on the skin surface to result in brown pigmentation, which becomes the tan. While self-tanning lotions, like other topical products, have been known to cause skin irritation, no adverse long-term effects have been recorded.
As we welcome the warm, sunny weather, do keep in mind the relevant risks and precautions. Being cautious when young may just save you lots of heartache and pain in later years.
About the Author:
For tips on gourd facts, snake gourd, what is a snake gourd, what is sweet viburnum, sweet viburnum , viburnum facts and other information, visit the Gardening Central website.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Ways To Accomplish The Glossy Tan
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Wing Nuts 4/pk For Wakeboards $4.01 Wing Nuts 4/pk For Wakeboards Wing Nuts 4 pack. class=”floatimageleft”/> |
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City Navigator Micro Sd Sd Adapter Singapore Malaysia $104.94 City Navigator Micro Sd Sd Adapter Singapore Malaysia GARMIN CITY NAVIGATOR MICRO SD SD ADAPTER SINGAPORE MALAYSIA |
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Eagle Creek Grounded Adapter Plug $9 Description of Eagle Creek Grounded Adapter PlugAll over the world there are different configurations of wall outlets. Adapter plugs allow you to plug your North American appliances into wall outlets internationally. NOTE: please see Features for country guide. Only the G-C is pictured.Features:Grounded adapter plug for 2 and 3 pin appliances such as laptops G-A: For use in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the CaribbeanG-C: For use in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and ChinaG-B: For use in N. America, S. America, Japan and the Caribbean G-D: For use in Great Britain, Ireland, Africa, Hong Kong, and Singapore G-E: For use in S. Africa and India G-F: For us in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean G-G: For use in ItalyWeight: 0 lb. 1.5 oz. |
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Eagle Creek Dual Wattage International Converter Set $44 Description of Eagle Creek Dual Wattage International Converter Set Be connected where ever you go.Features:A dual circuit unit that operates as a 0-25 Watt transformer in the low setting and a 26-1875 Watt converter in the high setting. For use in the low setting with: battery chargers, curling irons, shavers, tooth brushes, and other electronic or electric appliances between 0-25 Watts. For use in the high setting with:hair dryers, clothes steamers, irons, heating pads, coffee makers, beverage heaters, and other electric appliances between 26-1875 Watts. Comes with a carrying case. Set includes (1) Dual Wattage International Converter and (5) ungrounded adapter plugs: (UG-A) S. Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Caribbean (UG-B) South America, North America, Japan, Caribbean (UG-C) Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, China (UG-D) Great Britain, Ireland, Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore (UG-E) North Europe Plastic |
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Airhead Heavy Duty Tow Harness – Model AHTH-2 $17.99 A great harness to safely pull family and friends on skis, wakeboards, tubes, or other towables around the lake all day long. With a 5,000 lb tensile strength, this harness can even handle large four person towables. Clips simply to your boat thanks to its two 5,000 lb tensile strength metal clip-style hooks. Connection is just as easy at the other end, thanks to the heavy duty Kwik-Connect connector. The 6” float keeps the Kwik-Connect on top of the water, away from the boat’s propeller. 12 feet long to fit pontoons and larger boats as well. Rope is yellow and red for easy visibility. Features: 5000 lb tensile strength setup Connects quickly to boat with two metal clips Strong enough for skiers, wakeboarders, even four-person towables Features heavy duty Kwik Connect 6” float keeps Kwik Connect end on top of the water 12′ long- fits pontoons and other larger boats |
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Bennett M-80/M-120 Sport Tabs for 17′-23′ Boats $569.99 Here are just a few things Bennett?s Sport Tabs can do for you: Improve fuel efficiency by 20-30%. Improve visibility Increase speed Get you out of the ?hole? and on plane faster Smooth out a rough ride Correct for listing and uneven loads Pull more/heavier skiers How Sport Tabs Work Bennett?s Sport Tabs are two independent, stainless steel planes that attach to the bottom edge of your boat’s transom. When you press the helm control, the sport tabs move into position. Water force on the tab surface creates upward pressure, which raises the stern and lowers the bow. Get on Plane Quickly Using your Bennett Sport Tabs, you?ll decrease the time in the ?transition mode? between displacement and planning. You?ll be amazed at the speed at which you are up on plane and cruising. Increase Speed When the trim tabs are deflected, the stern rises, lowering the bow. Without touching the throttle, speed increases and optimum altitude is achieved, regardless of speed or weight distribution. Correcting for Listing As a result of uneven weight distribution, prop torque or wind, your boat can run with a list. Deep ?V? hulls are particularly vulnerable to this condition. But with a heavy passenger or gear, every boat is susceptible. Running with a list is uncomfortable, as well as unsafe. Bennett Sport Tabs operate independently for effective list correction. Smooth a Rough Ride Every boater has experienced a rough, pounding ride. Using your Sport Tabs, you can bring the bow down to cut through the water. This will significantly reduce the pounding and turn a teeth-jarring experience into a more comfortable ride. Plane at Lower Speeds Deflecting your Sport Tabs a little allows you to decrease your throttle, slow your speed and still stay on plane. Now you can cruise at speeds that were impossible to maintain without Trim Tabs. By bringing the bow down, you also improve visibility and safety. Water Sports Sport Tabs also add to your boat?s performance with skis or wakeboards. Deflect your tabs, and you can pull more skiers or heavier skiers. Wakeboard enthusiasts will like the fact that a boat equipped with Sport Tabs can slow down, stay on plane and create a bigger wake. Families will like the fact that you can pull inflatable water toys at slower speeds for young riders. Fuel Efficiency Fuel consumption is directly related to RPM and speed. Being able to back off your throttle while staying on plane delivers big dividends in fuel economy. Bennett Sport Tabs are one of the few boat accessories that can actually pay for themselves. Installation Just a few hours and some common tools are all you need to install your M-80 or M-120 Kit. Components of the Bennett system are designed and packaged with the do-it-yourselfer in mind. Every kit is complete, featuring one-page step-by-step instructions with templates. The M-80 and M-120 Sport Tabs even come with an installation video. |
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