Facts about Sunburn
What is sunburn?
A sunburn is a clear sign that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds has damaged the genetic material in your skin cells - their DNA.
Damaged DNA can cause cells to start growing out of control. This can lead to skin cancer. Getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
Your body's attempt to repair this damage is what causes the painful symptoms of a sunburn.
Check out the sunburn animation below from Cancer Research UK to see what happens to your skin when you get sunburnt.
Are sunburns like burns you get from touching something hot?
No, sunburns are caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun, which does not feel warm. The heat in the sun comes from infrared rays, which do not burn your skin. This is why people can still burn on cool days.
When you touch a hot object, your skin may also become red, swollen and painful. But the DNA inside your skin cells is not damaged. Both heat burns and sunburns will fade, but only sunburns can cause lasting damage to the DNA in your skin cells. Check out the sunburn animation below from Cancer Research UK for more information on this.
How to prevent sunburn
Clothes tend to provide more protection if they:
~ Are dark-coloured
~ Are made of synthetic fabrics
~ Are dry - if some fabrics are wet, their protection can be halved
~ Have a close weave or are knitted.
~ Broad-rimmed hats and bucket hats provide the most UV protection for the whole
face and head. Caps protect the nose and forehead but provide poor protection for
other parts of the face
About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and the number of people who develop it is increasing.
Most skin cancers are caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation - the kind found in sunlight and sunbeds. These cancers could be prevented if we protect ourselves from over exposure to these rays.
Cancer Research UK have developed some videos of people who have experienced skin cancer and lived to talk about it, it will help you discover the truth behind some common myths and offers top tips to help you enjoy the sun safely.
