Sun & Skin - How Can Former Affect Latter?

Exposure to sun's rays allows the skin to absorb produce vitamin D in the body, however, overexposure to the same can wreak havoc on your skin. So the next time you are going out, consider the effects of sun overexposure on the skin and take precautions accordingly.

Overexposure to the sun's rays can fasten the aging process in the body. It does this by damaging the fiber in the skin that makes the skin elastic, resulting in sagging skin. It also slows down the healing process of the skin, thus cuts and bruises take longer time to heal.

Following are the various ways in which the sun can cause real damage to your skin:

1. It may lead to benign tumors on the skin
2. It may decrease the immunity levels of the skin, thus increasing the risk of various diseases such as basal skin carcinoma (cancer of the cells lining the epidermal layer of the skin) and melanoma.
3. It may cause wrinkles and fine lines on your skin
4. It may cause discoloration of the skin, leading to spots on the skin
5. You may also get affected by freckles on your skin

Overexposure to the sun's rays also increases the risk of skin cancer as it may lead to damage to the DNA present on the skin. This may lead to an unhindered growth of cells, resulting in skin cancer. Apart from this, sun exposure may also increase oiliness in the skin and lead to acne breakouts.

There are a number of measures you may adopt to reduce the harmful effects of sun rays on your skin; they are:

1. Wear protective clothing when you step out in the sun. Prefer full-sleeved clothes and full-length trousers or skirts as they will prevent the skin from being overly exposed to the sun.
2. Wear sunscreen with an SPF count of at least above 15 when you go out in the sun in order to protect the skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun.
3. Remember to moisturize your skin as sun exposure may cause the skin to turn dry and flaky.
4. Don't save your umbrellas only for rainy days, use them to avoid direct exposure to the sun.