UV rays, SPF, and skin Flashcards
what does UV stand for?
ultraviolet
what are rays an abbreviation for?
radiation
why are UV rays necessary and what are they emitted by?
necessary for vitamin D production, emitted by the sun (+ tanning beds, etc)
what blocks most of the radiation from the sun?
the earth’s ozone layer
why can’t all UV rays be blocked?
they travel in waves of light
how many kinds of radiation are there? what are they?
3; UV-A, UV-B, UV-C
describe UV-A
high wavelength, not blocked by the ozone layer, can penetrate deeper into the skin
describe UV-B
middle wavelength, some is blocked but the majority of it gets through
describe UV-C
low wavelength, blocked by ozone layer
what are the two main things UV radiation can cause?
sunburns and skin cancers (+ aging of the skin)
what causes sunburns?
prolonged exposure to UV radiation
what do sunburns cause?
redness, swelling, and in more severe cases, blisters
what occurs during cancer?
cells lose their ability to regulate cell growth and division, leading to too many cells dividing uncontrollably and forming tumors
what does it mean for cancer to be benign?
it will not harm the body long-term
what does it mean for cancer to be malignant?
it has the potential to spread and harm the body long-term
what is it called when cancerous cells spread?
metastasis
how many types of skin cancer are there? name them.
3: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma
what does basal cell carcinoma affect and how common and deadly is it?
affects the cells of the stratum basale, extremely common but easily removed and generally not metastatic
how does basal cell carcinoma present itself?
as a pearly, waxy bump on the skin
what does squamous cell carcinoma affect and how common and deadly is it?
affects the epidermal layers, common and has a high chance of metastasis
how does squamous cell carcinoma present itself?
as a firm red nodule or a flat, red, scaly lesion
what do melanomas affect and how common and deadly is it?
melanocytes; rare but extremely deadly (high chance of metastasis and low survival rate)
how do melanomas present themselves?
as a mole with irregular borders that can bleed and turn into lesions
what is the best way to prevent cancer?
to protect the skin (includes protective clothing, sunblock/sunscreens)
what do sunblocks/sunscreens do to protect the skin?
they act as either chemical or physical barriers against UV rays
what does SPF stand for?
sun protection factor
the higher the SPF, the ____ UV it can block
more
what should you look for when purchasing sunblocks/sunscreens?
a high SPF and the words “broad spectrum”
what does it mean if a sunscreen or sunblock says “broad spectrum?”
that it is able to block more than one type of UV
