Ultraviolet (UV) levels are typically high during clear skies, during the dry season and during the transition between the dry and rainy seasons. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to UV damage to their skin and eyes, according to Who.int .
Invisible ultraviolet radiation
Effects on skin
Acute effects of UV radiation include DNA damage, sunburn, immune system suppression... Immunosuppression is a risk factor for cancer and can reactivate viruses.
Overexposure to UV rays caused more than 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer and more than 120,000 skin cancer deaths globally in 2020, according to Who.int .
Effects on the eyes
Acute effects of UV radiation include photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis. Chronic effects of UV radiation on the eye include:
Cataracts: An estimated 15 million people worldwide are blind due to cataracts, of which about 10% are due to exposure to UV rays, according to Who.int .
Eye Cancer: Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause cancer in and around the eyes
Macular degeneration: Exposure to UV rays can also lead to age-related macular degeneration.
Protection measures
Skin cancer is highly preventable. WHO recommends the following measures to protect skin and eyes from overexposure to UV rays.
- Limit time outdoors in midday sun.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes, face, ears and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on areas of skin that cannot be covered by clothing.
What is the UVI index?
UVI is an index that describes the level of ultraviolet rays from the sun at the Earth's surface.
The higher the UVI, the greater the risk of damage to the skin and eyes. Sun protection measures should be used when the UVI is 3 or higher.
Doctors recommend that people consider not going out when the UVI index is above 7. If the index rises to 10, it warns of dangerous radiation levels and people should stay indoors to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, according to The Stars .
A UVI of 10 means that there is a very high risk of harm to health from unprotected exposure to the sun. At this point, human skin can burn in just 25 minutes.
Level 11 or higher means the UV levels are extremely dangerous, and can damage skin and burn eyes if you're outside for just 15 minutes without protection, according to The Stars .
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