The MIDAS Project: Supported by the Science Education Partnership Award Program of the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. R25 RR018634)

Sunburn What happens when the sun hits your skin? You get tanned or burned! Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet or UV light from the sun. A sunburn is literally skin burned from exposure to the sun’s rays.

Sunlight and UV Rays Sunlight is a form of energy called radiation. Radiation travels in waves. Ultraviolet light or UV light is a specific type of radiation that travels at a wavelength too short for us to see with our eyes. UVA rays travel farthest into the skin and cause skin to tan or burn.

What the Sun Does to Skin The sun’s rays hit your skin and the body tries to protect itself by making melanin. Melanin is a pigment produced by the skin that gives skin its brown color. A suntan is the body’s way of making an umbrella for protection from the sun.

Tanning A tan is not a sign of good health or beauty, but a sign of skin damage! Although a tan fades, the damage to skin cells is irreversible. Damage to cells continues with each tan-producing sun exposure. People who use a tanning bed risk developing the severe skin cancer melanoma.

Why is a Sunburn Red? Do not confuse a sunburn with a burn you get from a fire, because they are different! A sunburn is red because of increased blood flow to the injured area of skin. When a sunburn is severe, you can develop blisters caused by the movement of protective cells in the blood to the injured areas of skin.

Damage Caused by Sun Exposure Over exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer and early aging. Cancer is a disease in which some cells divide uncontrollably. Exposure to sunlight can cause the skin to become leathery and wrinkled!

Sunburn Facts Scientists believe that a sunburn may alter the genetic material in the cells of the skin leading to an increased risk of skin cancer. Two thirds of skin damage due to sun exposure happens before the age of 20!Two thirds of skin damage due to sun exposure happens before the age of 20!

Skin Cancer Facts 90% of skin cancer is caused by overexposure to the sun’s radiation. 95% of skin cancer is curable when found and treated early.

Sun Safety There are ways to protect your skin from damage by the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun in the late morning to early afternoon. This is the time of day during which the sun is strongest. When you are outdoors, wear clothing that blocks the sun. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF rating on exposed skin. SPF stands for sun protection factor.

SPF What does the SPF number 4 on a bottle of sunscreen mean? The SPF number 4 means that you are protected from sunburn 4 times longer than the time it usually takes for your skin to turn red in the sun. Which offers more sunburn protection…SPF 4 or SPF 15?

Caring for Your Skin Your skin has many important functions. It is important that you take care of it. Simple habits can help keep skin healthy: –Eat properly –Drink plenty of water –Limit exposure to sun –Keep skin clean and dry - Wear protective clothing

Weird Skin Fact! A hippo’s sweat is a natural sunscreen. Hippopotamuses secrete onto the surface of their skin a pink fluid that helps protect them from the sun’s harmful rays.

Digging Holes In West Texas What are the health risks the boys face daily while digging holes at Camp Green Lake? Why are Mr. Sir and the warden sure that none of the boys will run away from Camp Green Lake?

Skin Cancer Prevention Why is it important to protect your skin from the sun? Make a list of things you can do to avoid sunburns. How can you reduce the risk of skin cancer?