The Directorate General of Public Health of the Canary Health Service of the Ministry of Health of the regional Government has raised the risk of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to "high" throughout the archipelago, including Lanzarote. This is the third of the five alert levels that exist for exposure, according to the Plan of Preventive Actions for the Effects of Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation on Health.
This ultraviolet radiation risk is "unusual for this time of year". The Ministry has recalled that protecting oneself 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.
The skin has memory
Public Health has recalled that sun damage is cumulative and that excessive exposure and sunburns in childhood increase the risk of some types of skin cancer many years, or even decades, later. It should be remembered that on cloudy days, when the sensation of heat may be less, solar rays are equally filtered through the clouds.
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 it is part of the non-visible spectrum of sunlight.
Risk levels
The Plan of Preventive Actions for the Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation has established five risk levels (low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme) to which a series of protection recommendations for citizens are associated according to the health risks that each of the levels entails.
On a weekly basis, the Directorate General of Public Health of the SCS issues a map or several maps of the archipelago with the risk level according to the indicators established by AEMET. Thus, the current map sets the risk of ultraviolet radiation at high until next Monday, February 16.
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 cold sore virus.
Overexposure to UV radiation can also cause serious health problems, including cancer: the best known is melanoma, which is basal cell carcinoma or basocellular and squamous cell carcinoma or spinocellular. In addition, exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of developing eye diseases if adequate eye protection is not used.
UV radiation can also produce harmful effects in anyone, but the risks increase for the population that:
• Spends a lot of time in the sun or has had sunburns.
• She 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 could 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.
How to protect yourself from UV radiation
From the Directorate General of Public Health, the main recommendations for adequately protecting oneself from UV radiation are recalled:
- Stay in the shade, especially during the hours around noon, between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
- Wear clothing that covers the arms and legs.
- Consider options to protect your young children according to the intensity of UV radiation.
- Never expose infants under six months to the sun, as their skin is very vulnerable and they cannot use sunscreens.
- 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 sun 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.
For more information on ultraviolet radiation in Spain, you can consult this link: https://bit.ly/AEMET-radiacion