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Skin care: the dangers of prolonged sun exposure SKIN CARE: THE DANGERS OF PROLONGED SUN EXPOSURE
The effects of prolonged sun exposure will occur simply by living in countries with vast amounts of natural sunlight, such as Australia. Exposure occurs daily on the face, neck and hands, and frequently also the legs. Actual sun bathing is not required. Simply walking in the streets, hanging out the washing, playing at school, and working the land, are all sufficient. The effect of this sunlight on the skin is cumulative. That is, each exposure does some damage, and the effects gradually become irreversible with permanent damage occurring. Damage due to sun exposure begins during infancy, and children are most susceptible. Microscopic studies have shown that by 20 years of age, more than 80 per cent of Individuals have some evidence of permanent skin damage. By the age of 40, all individuals examined showed signs of permanent damage in sun-exposed areas.
The changes associated with chronic skin damage are often considered to be signs of ageing. They have however very little to do with chronological age itself, but are rather to do with cumulative sun damage. As a result, the average Australian's skin makes him or her look at least ten years older than his or her European contemporary. The first changes which occur are due to degeneration of the collagen and the elastic fibres. This happens particularly in the supportive dermis, which becomes perished' like an old piece of elastic band left out in the sun for a few weeks. As a result, it loses its elasticity, and will not stretch; then it loses its suppleness and tone, and will not regain its shape after stretching. It then dries out, and disintegrates. Exaggerated skin markings, especially on the back of the neck, which appears thick and leathery, are likely to be amongst the first noticeable signs of chronic skin damage. Similarly, the sides of the neck and face tend to become prematurely wrinkled and loose, and develop an uneven patchy pigmentation, the latter being due to the melanin-producing cells being unable to function normally any more. The skin eventually becomes much thinner in parts, and very dry, and the superficial blood vessels become more obvious and unsightly. Specific small areas become dry and scaly, and form horny growths known as keratoses. These may eventually progress to skin cancer.
The affluent Western society we live in tends to worship the great sun god. Consequently, we sacrifice our skin to him. The pursuit of a 'healthy tan' seems to be equated with good health, fitness, good looks, and of course wealth. If you can afford to have a good tan all the year round, it implies you have been attending a solarium or are able to take frequent vacations in the sun. In the winter, this means either travelling to Queensland or the Pacific Islands, or going skiing. This desire to follow the trend and seek a tan, no matter what the cost to the pocket or the skin, often outweighs the advice given regarding the dangers of prolonged exposure. Warnings of premature wrinkling and skin cancer are hard to take seriously when you are a teenager, as the affects do not become apparent for 10-30 years. There is obviously a need to educate young people, and hopefully there will come a day when instead of brown being beautiful, white will be wonderful!
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