How long sun is healthy for the body?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER and thank you for your question.

Exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, the most common of all cancers. And skin cancer is on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were more than 71,943 people diagnosed with melanoma of the skin, the most serious form of skin cancer, in 2013 alone. About 4.3 million people are treated for basal cell cancer and squamous cell skin cancer in the United States every year, according to a 2014 report from the Office of the Surgeon General.

Harmful rays from the sun may cause eye damage and signs of skin aging, such as skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery” skin.

Sun damage to the body is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunburn is a type of skin damage caused by the sun. Tanning is also a sign of the skin reacting to potentially damaging UV radiation by producing additional pigmentation that provides it with some, but often not enough, protection against sunburn.

Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. People of all skin colors are at risk for this damage. You can reduce your risk by:

Limiting your time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.

Wearing clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeve shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brim hats. Sun-protective clothing is now available.

Using broad spectrum sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value of 15 or higher regularly and as directed. (Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, two types of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

I hope this is the information you are looking for.

Regards,
Maryann