It all started about 4.6 billion years ago when a giant cloud of gas collapsed under its own gravity to form what we now call the sun.

From the very first moment when our ancestors raised their eyes to the sky, the luminous ball of plasma that they saw caused surprise and admiration. OUR Sun he was worshiped as a god, and over the centuries magnificent temples, poems and festivals were created in his honor.

The sun, however, is a complex thing. “People of all ages and skin tones should limit sun exposure, especially between the morning and evening hours,” recommends American Cancer Institute.

Building a balanced relationship with the sun seems difficult. Underexposure can lead to despair, as sunlight is essential to the composition. Vitamin D and sleep regulation. On the other hand, of course, overexposure dries out the skin, making it look like wafer paper. Is it safe to sunbathe? “No,” says Dr. Marissa Criscito, assistant professor of dermatology at Laguna University in New York. According to Dr. Crisito, sun spots, skin discoloration, early signs of aging, and skin cancer are some of the long-term effects sun exposure can cause.

Many rest thanks to weekdays sunscreen use. They believe that a sunscreen with a high SPF is enough to protect them. “High SPFs create a false sense of security,” says Dr. Serin Idris, a New York City-based dermatologist. “Many people apply sunscreen early in the morning, but it doesn’t provide protection during the day,” he added. To be effective, sunscreen should be reapplied approximately every two hours and on all exposed parts of the body.

According to Dr. Crisito, sunscreen is only a piece of the puzzle that recommends combining sunscreen with a hat or clothing with a UPF indexand avoid exposure to the sun during hours of high radiation.

Dr. Idris mentioned that she enriches her protection methods with UPF and UV protectors that completely cover her face and neck. “I try to make it elegant,” he said.

Skin cancer

As for the theories circulating on social media that blame the rise in cancer rates on the ingredients of modern foods rather than the sun, Dr. Crisito answers flatly. “In 1700 AD, the average life expectancy was 30 to 40 years. “The median age for diagnosing melanoma is 65,” she said. If people had less skin cancer in the past, it was because they didn’t live long enough to get it.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than five million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. As the days get longer, summer approaches and our loved ones start planning activities that involve exposing our delicate, fragile bodies to the sun’s rays, it may be better to enjoy the sun from a distance.