Come on now, will one sunburn cause skin cancer?
Is this really that big of a deal? Yes, it is!
So, you are still wondering, will one sunburn cause skin cancer? The answer is easy. Yes, only one sunburn can set you up for skin cancer.
No, you don’t get to schedule the day and time to have skin cancer. It has never mattered to my skin cancers if it was a convenient time or not. They just show up! With so many articles about skin cancer, it is safe to assume that most of you are aware of the dangers of time in the sun.
Spending time in the sun can also make your skin look older than you are, especially the skin on your face. We know this, but continue to flirt with the dangers of too much sun.
Even learning about sun blocking clothing seems to have little effect on how we protect our skin. We are still careless about skin protection from the sun.
Just one sunburn can push you right over the risk scale from zero risk to a 50% risk! Just one sunburn.
What About Damage You Are Unaware Of?
I am assuming that because you are reading this, you are over the getting a tan thing every summer? Oh, not actually? Think about the fact that you can’t undo sunburn. Once you get it, the color will remain there until it naturally fades. The damage is forever.
After you have an accidental sunburn, the discomfort of your skin while healing should be enough of a deterrent against a 2nd one. So even though you aren’t over tanning, you are over getting that accidental sunburn. Tanning almost always ends up in sunburn along the way.
Protecting your skin from another accidental sunburn starts with covering your skin. Covering with sun blocking clothing is the best option to spending time in the sun. Covering your skin will allow ou to limit the damage done accidently.
Adding sunscreen to sun blocking clothing is an excellent way to stop that unexpected sunburn.
Another way to control sunburn is to stay out of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM, especially during the direct sun rays time of the year. This ia a simple and very effective way to stay safe from the sun.
The other positive habit to protect your skin is become aware. Aware of when the sun is hitting your skin. Don’t stand in line with no awareness of where the sun is. Don’t sit where the sun is directly on you. Search for shade, bring an umbrella, using an awning. Keep the hot direct sun off your skin.
Just because you can’t see the damage of early aging to your skin does not keep the sun from doing what it does, making your skin older than it should be. Sun damage is accumulative. Time will reveal the damage. You really will care in 10 years how old your skin looks.
How Long Does It Take For The Sun To Damage Your Skin?
The sun makes Vitamin D and feels good on our s.kin.
Ice cream feels good too, but like the sun on your skin, to much is just flat out too much.
The sun, in unlimited amounts can quickly become your worst enemy. Every sunburn increases your risk of in cancer.
The UV Index scale is a tool that helps you understand how quickly a sunburn can occur. If you aren’t wearing sun blocking clothing, or adding sunscreen real often you can be in trouble in a hurry
For me, that is the big danger with sunburn. It feels so good, yet you can get too much sun in a hurry.
The ultraviolet levels are measured on a daily basis by the National Weather Service and then are converted to a scale of exposure risks.
Time The National Weather Service Predicts For Sunburn
0-2: Low Risk
A UV Index reading two or lower equals little risk of sunburn for the average person. Wear sunglasses, wear sun blocking clothing or use broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin.
Be alert for bright surfaces like sand, water and snow which reflect UV rays that can increase your exposure. How long to burn usually varies by skin type, approximately 60 minutes.
3-5: More Risk, but still in the Moderate range
With A UV Index reading of 3 and 5 there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. Seek shade between 10 AM and 4 PM, as the sun’s rays are their strongest.
Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.. If you are using sunscreen, remember reapplication directions..
How long to burn can vary by skin type, but at a moderate UV level it is approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If your are protectiong yourskin. Without clothing and sunscreen, 20 minutes will have you in trouble.
6-7: Very High Risk Level
When The UV Index is reading 6 or 7 you are at a high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
Following the steps from the moderate level is suggested. The time to burn will vary by skin type, with a high UV level it is approximately 15 to 25 minutes.
8-10: Very High
If The UV Index reading 8 to 10, this puts you at a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
With risk this high, extra precautions for both your skin and eyes are important. Damage occurs quickly, usually within 15 minutes.
If it isn’t possible to avoid exposure with this high a risk, wearing sun blocking clothing including your sun hat and sunglasses and reapplying sunscreen often as you will be sweating it off. These measures are only temporary. Avoid high risk sun exposure.
Extreme UV Index Risks
11 or more: Extreme Risks
If you have to be out in the sun when the UV Index is reading 11 or higher yu can get in trouble quickly. This high sun danger puts you in a very dangerous spot for sunburn. You will have with less than 10 minutes, if unprotected.
At this level it is best to avoid all sun exposure between 10AM and 4PM.
To check the UV Index Level for where you are click the link below :
Find out the UV Index Level near you so you can determine the best way to protect yourself from damaging skin exposure. Research has shown that getting severe sunburn, just once every two years, can triple the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
How You Can Stay Safe From Sunburn
Stay aware of the suns dangers.
Pay attention to the sun UV strength when you are going to be out. We all need and want a little sun. The problem arises when we have had enough. We are greedy and want a whole summers worth in one setting! That just isn’t a good idea.
Give your and your family a chance to live healthy and have a safe sun lifestyle. It is not just the days at the beach or at the ballgame that cause your skin to age before it should, or the sun exposure to develop skin cancer.
Yes, the big ones are what we tend to be more aware of. We don’t pay attention to the times we run out and get the mail, or walk over the neighbors, and lingering longer than planned. Walking the dog and being out longer than we prepared for.
That little stuff can add up to sunburn and skin damage. They happen and we are not aware. Once you sunburn, you can’t dial back the clock. You are one sunburn nearer the skin cancer than you were. Day after day! Wear your long sleeve loose fitting shirt on these outings.
Protect your skin. Don’t let the damage add up, even if you miss skin cancer there is that leathery looking skin with dark spots and all those wrinkles. That sun hat and sunglasses are important. Sunscreen where you aren’t covered.
Everyone needs their skin protected, everyday to protect from skin cancer.
Now That You Are Aware, More SunBurn Risks
- Every sunburn increases your risk. High risk fair-skinned people, are at more risk than those with darker skin tones. It will take longer to damage your skin with darker skin, but it will happen. Sunburn has been found to have a clear role in developing melanoma.
- Research shows that those same UV rays that damage yur skin can also alter a tumor-suppressing genein your skin cells. This gives injured cells less chance to completely repair that skin cell before progressing to cancer. This is the DNA damage you see so many warnings about. Sounds minor, but is more dangerous than it sounds.
- Just one sunburn that is bad and deep enough to form blisters before you are 21 will more than double your chances of having a melanoma.
- Skin damage accumulates over time starting with your very first sunburn. The more often you burn, the greater your risk of skin cancer. UV damage can occur even when there is no obvious burn.
- Five or more sunburns more than doubles your risk of developing melanoma, the most serious of skin cancers. Yes, each time you sunburn, you are upping the anti to have a melanoma. Like other skin cancers they can be cured if found in time. The problem, the darker your skin color, the harder they are to find.
How Can You Protect Your Skin From The Sun?
- Reduce your risk of skin cancer by practicing sun safety. How sun safe are you?
Cover your skin with sun blocking clothing. This is the easiest way to prevent sunburn if you insist on being outside in the more risky times of day. A sun hat, your sunglasses. Don’t forget the sun blocking shirt.
Damage can occur in a very short time, so protect your skin. Wearing sun blocking clothing is the best way to protect the most of your body. Covering up is safer than applying sunscreen that can sweat away and need to be reapplied.
Of course, that leaves your face. Even though you have on you sun hat, there are always reflections from surfaces. Applying sunscreen to your face will protect against the danger of reflections. Besides, it is easier to apply sunscreen to your face than to your back.
The backs of your hands also will need extra protection. Like your face and neck, the backs of your hands are where most first skin cancers are found.
I do agree with SkinCancer.org and their claim that no single method of skin protection is completely safe. That is why you need to take the best of both the sunscreen and sun blocking clothing. Put them both to work for you and have a sun safe lifestyle to keep you healthy through life.
Stay in the shade as much as possible. Use a pop-up tent, an umbrella, awnings, any shade that is available even with the sun blocking clothing and sunscreen.
Keep hydrated, and help keep skin healthy. When you get dehyderatedm
Stay aware of all the ways the sun can sneak up on you, and do the best you can to protect yourself.
Sunburn Causes Early Aging?
SkinCancer.org says that “sunburn accelerates skin aging.”
The sun, especially Ultaviolet A Rays are constantly attacking your skin. The connective tissue is just under the surface of your skin, and even if you don’t sunburn, you can loose collegin that is connective tissue that keeps your skin young and snapping back.
This is when your skin starts looking weathered, and the wrinkles become established. You may only see them when you look with a magnifying mirror. However, you can be sure if you have a sunburn in your history, you will have them.
The more sun, the more damage, and the less you can do to stop the process. Make some changes, use healthy tips to keep from looking old before you have too.
You will continue to damage your skin if you don’t make some changes.
Yes, sunburn is dangerous. However as dangerous as it is it it preventable.
Sami’s Take On Will One Sun Burn Cause Skin Cancer?
Making small changes to your daily routine is the best what to make the changes stick, and allow you to stay safe in the sun. To be able to enjoy some fun at the sun, while keeping your skin safe.
We are experiencing more weather extremes, and so our protection routine will need a few adjustments. Wearing UPF clothing, using sunscreen. Making better decisions about when to be out in the sun. Changes in our world are real.
As the parent of a family who has had many pre-cancer and skin cancers removed from their arms, legs, hands, arms, head, ear, neck, and face. We are walking posters for what should not have happened.
Will skin cancer be a constant in your life. Are you waiting till you are older to worry? Why not take percaution so you won’t have to worry?
Just a few changes can help.
Thank you,
Sami