WHY IS THE SUN HARMFUL?

Ultraviolet rays (UV) cause the harmful effects of the sun, and they get to us together with the visible sunlight and infrared rays (the ones that cause heat). There are two types:

• UVA rays penetrate even the most intense skin layers. They are allergencic and cause the skin to age.
• UVB rays get to the epidermis (external skin layes). They cause burns and blisters.

There is a third type UV rays, called UVC, that are very harmful but they do not get to Earth as they are filtered by the atmosphere. They only get to high mountain peaks and to areas that are geographically close to the ozone hole.

Large amounts of UV rays over a period of years (between 10 and 50) can cause skin cancer or even eyelid and lip cancer. UV rays also weaken the immune system and cause cataracts and other eye illnesses. Part of the harm caused by UV rays is due to the fact that they generate free radicals on the skin which are toxins that are inhibited by vitamins A, C and E that we have on our skin, but which might not be substantial to inhibit them after some time.