Harmful Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation
EPA's Summary of Harmful Effects of Over Exposure to UV
A video excerpt from the TV documentary "The Universe":
Also see an online article in which Dr. Barbara Gilchrist, a dermatologist at Boston University Medical Center, discusses the harmful effects of tanning, particularly in young people. Link to BU Today article
Eye Injuries Associated with Tanning
Permanent eye injuries can result from acute and chronic exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight. It is important to note that closed eyelids are not an adequate means of protection, since they only block about 25% of UV rays.
Potential injuries include:
- Cataracts
- Corneal burns
- Temporary blindness and discomfort caused by intense UV exposure
- Macular degeneration
A short video from Info4YourLife
Skin Types
The extent of damage after exposure to UV radiation is dependent on many factors such as duration, frequency, time of year, cloud cover, use of sun block, etc. However, another factor that is important is the type of skin. The table below shows the six widely recognized skin types. These should be taken into account by operators in tanning salons when determining maximum exposures. For a PowerPoint slide show on skin types, open this link.
| Type I: | Highly sun-sensitive, always burns, never tans. Example: Very pale Caucasian, freckles, or Albino |
| Type II: | Very sun-sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally. Example: Fair-skinned Caucasian |
| Type III: | Sun-sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown. Example: Darker Caucasian, European mix |
| Type IV: | Minimally sun-sensitive, rarely burns, always tans to moderate brown. Example: Mediterranean, European, Asian, Hispanic, Native American |
| Type V: | Sun-insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well. Example: Hispanic, Afro-American, Middle Eastern |
| Type VI: | Sun-insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented. Example: Afro-American, African, Middle Eastern |
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Understanding Skin Types Using the Fitzpatrick Scale Click 'Show' to see the hidden portion. |
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