The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), coordinates the Plan of Preventive Actions against the Effects of Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation on Health, which establishes a series of recommendations to reduce the effects on people's health associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Specialists from the General Directorate of Public Health remind that protecting yourself from the sun is a responsibility that must be maintained not only in summer, but throughout the year, even on cloudy days. It is important to use sunscreen daily (SPF 30 or higher), stay in shaded areas and wear wide-brimmed hats and clothing that covers arms and legs, as well as wear appropriate sunglasses.
In addition, the technicians of the General Directorate of Public Health insist that sun damage is cumulative and that excessive exposure and burns in childhood increase the risk of some types of skin cancer many years, or even decades, later. Also, remember that on cloudy days, when the sensation of heat may be lower, the sun's rays are still filtered through the clouds.
The Canary Islands is the region of Spain with the highest UV radiation throughout the year, according to data provided by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). UV radiation is a form of radiation emitted by the sun and by artificial sources, such as tanning beds, and is part of the non-visible spectrum of sunlight.
Benefits of UV radiation
The body produces vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to the sun. This vitamin, which is essential for human health, helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food and contributes to bone formation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends five to fifteen minutes of sun exposure, with a frequency of two or three times per week.
Risks of UV radiation
The acute effects of UV radiation can be varied: DNA damage, sunburn, phototoxic and photoallergic reactions and immunosuppression, which can be considered a risk factor for cancer and lead to the reactivation of viruses, such as the herpes simplex virus.
Overexposure to UV radiation can also cause serious health problems, including cancer: the best known is melanoma, which is basal cell or basocellular cancer and squamous cell or spinocellular cancer.
In 2020, more than 1.5 million cases of skin cancer were diagnosed worldwide and more than 120,000 deaths associated with this cause were recorded.
In addition, it is recalled that exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of eye diseases if adequate eye protection is not used. It is estimated that there are fifteen million people in the world who have gone blind due to cataracts and that ten percent of these cases may be due to exposure to UV radiation.
UV radiation can also produce harmful effects in any person, but the risks increase for the population that:
• Spends a lot of time in the sun or has had sunburn.
• Has fair skin, hair and eyes.
• Takes certain oral and topical medications, such as antibiotics, birth control pills and products containing benzoyl peroxide, similarly, some cosmetics may increase the sensitivity of the skin and eyes to UV radiation in all skin types.
• Has a family member with skin cancer.
• Is over fifty years old.
To protect yourself from UV radiation
The General Directorate of Public Health recalls the main recommendations to adequately protect yourself from UV radiation:
Stay in the shade, especially during the hours around noon, between 11:00 and 17:00.
Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Consider options to protect your children of infantile age according to the intensity of UV radiation.
Never expose children under six months directly to the sun, as their skin is very vulnerable and they cannot use photoprotective creams.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat that covers the face, head, ears and neck.
Use approved sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
Use sunscreen with a protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It is important to remember that sunscreens have an expiration date.
