Everyone loves sunshine. It is the source of all life: if the sun disappeared, life as we know it would cease to exist. The sun helps our bodies produce essential vitamins such as vitamin A and D, and we all know how much a sunny day can elevate our mood.You should, however, make sure that you don’t get burnt
How melanin protects the skin
Pigment cells in the skin start producing melanin as soon as the skin is exposed to sunlight and UV rays. The skin’s ability to tan is directly related to the pigment granule concentration in the skin: people who have higher concentrations of pigment cells, or who have a high pigment cell production rate, will turn a darker shade of brown than those who do not have this ability. Pigment cells protect the skin from the sun by absorbing and reflecting UV rays. Fair-skinned people and children produce less melanin and therefore have an increased likelihood of experiencing DNA damage than darker-skinned people.
Repeated exposure to the sun increases the skin’s thickness, and it is this, along with melanin, that protects the skin from the sun. In fact, these two natural mechanisms are said to offer the same protection as a SPF 20 sunscreen. Melanin production is directly related to time spent in the sun: longer periods in the sun will lead to increased melanin production. However, at a certain point, the skin reaches its melanin limit and cannot produce any more. This is the point at which the skin becomes sunburnt.
Sunburn usually only affects the upper layer of the skin. The skin turns a pinkish red, will be painful and swollen, and will usually start peeling a few days later. A more severe type of sunburn will include symptoms such as blisters, fever, a headache, and a general feeling of malaise. It also causes more intense peeling. Symptoms usually disappear within a few days.
The Dutch Burns Foundation advises the following when dealing with sunburn:
- Stay out of the sun while the skin is still red and
- cool it with cold, wet cloths or by taking a lukewarm shower.
- Moisturize the skin with a hydrating cream or oil that allows the skin to breathe. Make sure you use a pure product that does not contain any aggressive ingredients, such as perfume, which could aggravate the skin further. After all, you would not spray perfume on a wound either and sunburn is a type of wound, even though it is not an open wound.
- Drink plenty of water when you are dealing with sunburn to stay hydrated.
Everyone loves sunshine. It is the source of all life: if the sun disappeared, life as we know it would cease to exist. The sun helps our bodies produce essential vitamins such as vitamin A and D, and we all know how much a sunny day can elevate our mood.You should, however, make sure that you don’t get burnt
How melanin protects the skin
Pigment cells in the skin start producing melanin as soon as the skin is exposed to sunlight and UV rays. The skin’s ability to tan is directly related to the pigment granule concentration in the skin: people who have higher concentrations of pigment cells, or who have a high pigment cell production rate, will turn a darker shade of brown than those who do not have this ability. Pigment cells protect the skin from the sun by absorbing and reflecting UV rays. Fair-skinned people and children produce less melanin and therefore have an increased likelihood of experiencing DNA damage than darker-skinned people.
Repeated exposure to the sun increases the skin’s thickness, and it is this, along with melanin, that protects the skin from the sun. In fact, these two natural mechanisms are said to offer the same protection as a SPF 20 sunscreen. Melanin production is directly related to time spent in the sun: longer periods in the sun will lead to increased melanin production. However, at a certain point, the skin reaches its melanin limit and cannot produce any more. This is the point at which the skin becomes sunburnt.
Sunburn usually only affects the upper layer of the skin. The skin turns a pinkish red, will be painful and swollen, and will usually start peeling a few days later. A more severe type of sunburn will include symptoms such as blisters, fever, a headache, and a general feeling of malaise. It also causes more intense peeling. Symptoms usually disappear within a few days.
The Dutch Burns Foundation advises the following when dealing with sunburn:
- Stay out of the sun while the skin is still red and
- cool it with cold, wet cloths or by taking a lukewarm shower.
- Moisturize the skin with a hydrating cream or oil that allows the skin to breathe. Make sure you use a pure product that does not contain any aggressive ingredients, such as perfume, which could aggravate the skin further. After all, you would not spray perfume on a wound either and sunburn is a type of wound, even though it is not an open wound.
- Drink plenty of water when you are dealing with sunburn to stay hydrated.
