Dr. Ben Wiese of the Kelowna Skin Cancer Screening Clinic talks about the long-term effects of continued sun exposure, and why it is important to protect your skin.

1. WHAT HAPPENS TO
YOUR SKIN
AFTER
CONTINUED
SUN
EXPOSURE?
Dr. Ben Wiese | Kelowna Skin Cancer Center

2. For countless people
around the world, that
typically means that they
will be spending more time
in the sun.
SUMMER IS HERE

3. Sun & Your Skin
What many people do not take into account though, is the effect that the
sun has on your skin each time you are exposed to its UV rays. From
working on your tan to getting a sunburn, each time in the sun affects the
integrity of your skin. Knowing this, let’s examine some of the things that
happen to your skin when exposed to the sun.

4. Sunburn
Most individuals who have spent time in
the sun have probably experienced a
sunburn at some point in their lives.
Sunburns are caused when the skin is
exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV)
rays, which means that the burn can
affect the outer layers of the skin.

5. While a few sunburns may not seem
dangerous, the number of sunburns that
you have gotten throughout your life, the
frequency that they occur, and the severity
of the sunburn all greatly affect the
integrity of the skin. Like most other areas
of the body, the skin may not be able to
heal the way that it should, both because
of natural aging and potential damage to
the cells. Each time the skin needs to
rejuvenate itself, it may not have the same
capability to heal, and this increases the
risk that mutilated DNA cells can start to
grow and divide. This typically signifies the
beginning stages of skin cancer.

6. Protecting
Your Skin
Knowing that the damage caused by
continued sun exposure and sunburns
can lead to skin cancer, it is important to
always practice safe sun measures. This
includes applying sunscreen to your
entire body before going into the sun
and reapplying throughout the day.
Additionally, wearing protective, light-
colored clothing can help protect your
skin, thus reducing the risk of
developing skin cancer in the future.

7. HOW TO AVOID SUN DAMAGE
Always
apply sunscreen
Remember
to reapply it regularly
Wear
protective clothing

8. DR. BEN WIESE
Kelowna Skin Cancer
Center
For more,
visit
KelownaSkinCancer.com