South Africa falls in the ‘extremely high risk’ category on the national UV index, so if it’s not already part of your daily routine, remember to protect your skin against irreversible sun damage.
Damage from adverse exposure to UV rays, such as pigmentation, skin cancers and wrinkles, can never be fully repaired, according to Dr Suretha Kannenberg, a consultant in the division of dermatology at Stellenbosch University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences.
“The vast majority of skin damage occurs during childhood and teenage years, then accumulates with the years,” she adds. Dr Bianca Tod, a dermatologist and senior lecturer in the division, agrees that “many of these effects stem from sun exposure in our youth” and that early “sun protection is like saving for your retirement”.
UV rays explained
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the solar radiation (sunlight) spectrum, which falls within the electromagnetic spectrum, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
UV rays are further divided into three subgroups: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C, with UV-A being the most dangerous. On the UV index and associated UV risk level scale, from 0-2 (low risk) to 11+(extremely high risk), the vast majority of South Africa is categorised as being at an extreme risk for UV exposure.
“South Africa is a country with high UV levels that are frequently high enough to cause damage to our skin and eyes,” says Tod. “The Northern Cape tends to have the highest UV index levels, although very high levels are observed in all provinces, depending on prevailing conditions.”
These conditions extend to a location’s proximity towards the equator (the closer to the equator, the higher the UV levels), the season (higher levels in summer), weather, time of day, altitude and changes in the ozone layer, Tod adds.
Tanning a sign of skin damage
“Excessive UV light exposure is associated with damage to the skin. This damage can be divided into acute (early) and chronic (delayed) effects,” says Tod. Acute effects include sunburn and heat stroke, while chronic effects include an increased risk of skin cancer, skin ageing and uneven pigmentation.
“Sunburn is an indication of damage to the DNA of skin cells. This triggers inflammation: redness, pain and generally feeling unwell,” says Kannenberg.
Even though people with darker skin are less likely to develop sunburn (visible redness or pinkness of the skin) than those with lighter skin, they might note dryness, irritation or darkening of the skin, explains Tod.
“Some individuals will ...