WHO warns about the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays

Ultraviolet (UV) levels are often high on clear days, during the dry season and during the transition between the dry and rainy seasons. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to UV damage to their skin and eyes, according to Who.int .

Ultraviolet radiation is invisible.

Effects on the skin

Acute effects of UV radiation include DNA damage, sunburn, immune system suppression... Immunosuppression is a risk factor for cancer and can reactivate viruses.

Overexposure to UV rays caused more than 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer and more than 120,000 skin cancer deaths globally in 2020, according to Who.int .

Effects on the eyes

Acute effects of UV radiation include photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis. Chronic effects of UV radiation on the eye include:

Cataracts: An estimated 15 million people worldwide are blind due to cataracts, of which about 10% are due to exposure to UV rays, according to Who.int .

Eye Cancer: Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause cancer in and around the eyes

Macular degeneration: Exposure to UV rays can also lead to age-related macular degeneration.

Protective measures

Skin cancer is highly preventable. WHO recommends the following measures to protect skin and eyes from overexposure to UV rays.

• Limit time outdoors in the midday sun.
• Wear protective clothing.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes, face, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on areas of skin that cannot be covered by clothing.

What is the UVI index?

UVI is an index that describes the level of ultraviolet rays from the sun at the Earth's surface.

The higher the UVI, the greater the risk of damage to the skin and eyes. Sun protection should be used when the UVI is 3 or higher.

Doctors advise people to consider not going out when the UVI index is above 7. If this index rises to 10, it warns of dangerous radiation levels and people should stay indoors to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, according to The Stars .

A UVI of 10 means there is a very high risk of harm to your health from unprotected sun exposure. Human skin can burn in just 25 minutes.

Level 11 or higher means the UV level is at an extremely dangerous level, which can damage skin and burn eyes if you're outside for just 15 minutes without protection, according to The Stars .

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