When Sunny isn't funny

LIVING so close to the equator, we are all no strangers to the merciless beating of sunlight onto every possible surface but there is a growing need to protect ourselves from the six billion-year old star.

Scientists are saying that overexposure to Ultraviolet (UV) rays before the age of 18 can cause huge problems such as premature aging, skin cancer, eye cataracts and even problems to your immune system.

UVA rays account for a majority of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Less intense than UVB, UVA rays are more prevalent as they can penetrate clouds and glass.

UVB has been long known to be a major culprit in skin aging and wrinkling but it is UVA which contributes to and may even begin the development of skin cancer.

The ozone layer is the layer of air above us in the stratosphere which contains ozone molecules, each made up of three atoms of oxygen. This layer blocks many of the sun's harmful UV rays before they reach the Earth. But in recent years, it has been getting thinner due to chemicals being released into the air braking down these molecules. Holes in the ozone layer allow UV rays to come through.

These holes in the ozone layer has led to a greater awareness of the dangers of being directly exposed to the sun and wearing sunscreen when you are outside is one way of protection on top of covering up and seeking the shade.

Sunscreen is measured by its Sun Protection Factor (SPF) but it is not an amount of protection but rather an indicator of how long it would take for UVB rays to redden the skin compared to without the product. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends SPFs 15 or higher for sufficient protection.

The Brunei Times