Sunburn facts for kids
A sunburn is like a burn on your skin that happens when you spend too much time in the sunlight. It makes your skin turn red and can feel very painful. Sunburns usually last for a few days or even a week.
Sunlight contains something called ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays can damage the natural chemicals in your skin. When this damage happens, your body reacts by sending more blood to the area, which makes your skin look red.
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What Causes Sunburn?
The main cause of sunburn is too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. There are different types of UV rays, but UVA and UVB are the ones that affect your skin.
How UV Rays Harm Skin
UVB rays are the main culprits for sunburn. They directly damage the DNA inside your skin cells. When your skin cells get damaged, they can't work properly. Your body tries to fix this damage, but if there's too much, it leads to the symptoms of sunburn.
UVA rays also play a role. They can make the damage from UVB rays worse and also contribute to skin aging.
Who Gets Sunburned?
Anyone can get a sunburn, but some people are more likely to get one than others.
Skin Color and Sunburn
People with lighter skin tend to get sunburned more easily. This is because their skin has less of a dark pigment called melanin. Melanin acts like a natural shield, protecting your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. People with darker skin have more melanin, which gives them better natural protection.
However, even people with darker skin can get sunburned if they are exposed to very strong sun for a long time. It's important for everyone to protect their skin.
What Happens After a Sunburn?
After a sunburn, your skin might feel hot, tight, and sore. It can also become itchy. In more serious cases, you might see small, fluid-filled bumps called blisters. These blisters are a sign of a more severe burn.
As your skin heals, the top layers might start to peel. This is your body's way of getting rid of the damaged skin cells and making way for new, healthy skin.
Protecting Your Skin from Sunburn
Preventing sunburn is very important for your health. It helps keep your skin healthy and reduces the risk of long-term problems.
Simple Ways to Stay Safe in the Sun
- Seek Shade: Try to stay in the shade, especially during the middle of the day (usually between 10 AM and 4 PM) when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Cover up with clothes like long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats. Look for clothing with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) label for extra protection.
- Use Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. Make sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Put it on about 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
- Wear Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses that block 99% or 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.
Long-Term Effects of Sunburn
Getting sunburned, especially severe sunburns, can have long-term effects on your skin. Over many years, repeated sunburns can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. This is why it's so important to protect your skin from a young age.
Sunburns also make your skin age faster, leading to wrinkles and dark spots. By taking care of your skin now, you can keep it looking healthy for many years to come.
Images for kids
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Blisters on a shoulder caused by sunburn.
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How a UVB photon can damage DNA, leading to sunburn.
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UV dose rate at different Northern latitudes.
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Sunburn peeling, showing the destruction of skin layers.
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Another example of sunburn peeling.
