How Dark People Avoid Cancer Causing Agents.

While it is a widely held view by scientist that fair skin people are more prone to skin cancer than dark skin people. It is advisable for dark skinned people to avoid long term exposure to sunlight. This is because while it may be easier for fair skinned people to easier to detect any complication arising from sun exposure; for dark skinned people it is more difficult, not until the damage has become devastating.

Let’s Examine why sun exposure could be dangerous

The sun rays have what we call the ultra violet rays and light rays. Among these rays the UV- rays is of much concern here. This is because the UV rays has been fingered by scientist as the ray that does much damage to the skin; leading to DNA damage and possibly skin cancer.

This is because our ozone layer; i.e that thin layer found in the atmosphere which reduces the amount of UV rays that reaches the earth surface has been depleted by man’s activities, such as the use of ozone depleting substance .

Listed below is the dangerous effect of excessive sun exposure

Skin damage

UV rays has been fingered as the major factor that contributes to skin cancer; with about 1/3 of the cancer which comes as a result of DNA damage of the skin leading to lesions on the skin. There are various types of skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, with the most deadly being melanoma with some 130000 cases diagnosed yearly.

How do UV rays/ Sunlight Damage the Skin? 

Damage of the skin from UV light results from over exposure to the sun, which leads to blisters or sun burn (This burn indicates potential damage to the skin). When this damage is not treated, the DNA may become affected which may lead to cancer. This is because the Genes which control cell division and growth has been destroyed or altered.

Eye Damage

Studies have shown that most of those who have cataract do so because of over exposure to sunlight. Cataract results, when the protein in the eyes change shape resulting in the accumulation of pigments which cloud the eyes. This pigment if not removed on time can lead to blindness; in the short, cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world with over 15 million people suffering from blindness as a result of cataract. With many people in Africa and Asia unable to have access to treatment as a result of poverty, blindness is escalating.

Compromise of the Immune System/ Damage

Ultra violet light has also been shown to compromise the immune system by making it easier for people to get infected by bacteria, fungal or viral infection.

Hence sunlight has the potential not only to cause DNA damage but also to make our immune system deficient leading to easy attack by foreign bodies

With the resultant effect sunlight exposure has on an individual. Does it mean we should no longer move in the sun?

The obvious answer is no. What should actually be done could be found below.

1) Avoid Long Term exposure to the Sun: while the sun i.e the early morning sun has been attributed as a source of  vitamin D, Over exposure to the sun from  10 to 4.00pm is potentially dangerous , due to reason listed above; Hence as much as possible stay indoors or under a shade. 

2) Rub UV Protection Creams

Scientist have discovered several creams which has the ability to reduce the impact of UV rays by serving as a protection shield  listed below are some examples of these creams which have a sun protection factor of at least 15

 3) Wear Long, Lose Fitting Clothes

Clothes that cover, whole of the body should be worn especially by those who can’t avoid working long in the sun

4) Wear Wide Brimmed Hats

Hats that cover the face, ears and back of the neck should be worn when hiking as they help limits the impact of UV rays on our skin.

5) Sun Screen or Sun Glasses: The glasses mentioned here are those which have the ability to render up to 90 to 100% protection from UV light thus preventing eye damage.

6) Avoid Use of Tanning Parlour

Avoid them as you would avoid snake. This is because they make use of uv-radiation which has the potentials to cause grave skin damage.

7) See Your Doctor

If any freckle appears on your skin endeavour to see a doctor who will be in a position to tell you if your DNA has been damaged or if it is just any normal freckle with no harmful consequence.