How Ultraviolet rays damages – Skin, Eyes and DNA? In fact UV rays are damaging skin and triggering skin cancer. It cause cataracts in the eyes and is also capable to alter the DNA mapping of cells.
It is better to keep ourselves safe from the harmful Ultraviolet Rays (UV) radiation. The ozone layer is depleting. And due to this, the UV rays are entering the earth’s surface. Upon research and understanding, it has been proved by scientists that the UV rays are indeed causing damage to nature and Human beings. Skin ageing, skin burns, are some of the known effects. It has the ability to trigger cancer-causing cells in the skin, cause cataracts in the eyes and is also capable to alter the DNA mapping of cells.
Skin Damage:
Apart from skin tan or burn, there are types of skin cancer caused due to the UV rays.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most commonly found types of skin cancer. It is the unusual and abnormal growth on the skin. It looks like a red patch, or a sore, however, the problem is deep within the layers of the cell. Although it does not spread across the body it is the most common around the neck and the face area. It can be a serious problem if left undiagnosed.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer. It is the unusual and uncontrolled growth of skin’s outer most layers. The SCC is seen as the growth of scary red patches, or warts, that form a crust and bleed.
- Melanoma is the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. Melanoma causes the pigment-producing skin cells to multiply rapidly, and form tumours. They usually look like moles and often erupt from moles too. Majority of them are coloured in either black or brown. However, some are even pink, red, and white. If spotted on time, melanoma is curable. If medical advice is not sought it can turn out to be fatal.
Eye Damage
Exposure to unfiltered UV rays can cause more than just a sting of pain in the eyes.
- Cataract – A cataract is a dense, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye. The cloud-like structure stops the light entertaining to eyes, hence leads to the interference with vision. Cataracts are usually found amongst the older aged people.
- Photokeratitis – It is a painful eye condition. Some symptoms of these are eyelid twitching, pain, redness, seeing halos, headache and many more.
- Pterygium – It is an eye disease that causes a tissue in the eyes to grow in a triangular way around the cornea. The symptoms are often redness and inflammation. If not cured on time, the vision can be affected.
- Uveal Melanoma – It is cancer in the eye. Tumours erupt in the pigment cells of the eye. It can be cured upon diagnosed properly and timely. However, if it begins to spread, the chances of survival reduces to 5%
- Neuropathy – It is a disease which affects the cornea. It begins generally with the loss of vision and pain in the eye.
Exposure to the UV rays for long periods of time, would cause damages to the cell. These harmful rays are capable of altering the DNA in the cell. It effects the immune system in the body. This syndrome is known as Immuno suppression. It suppress the body’s immune system and its ability to fight infections and other diseases.
Dr Anil Kumar,
Medical Oncologist
SPARSH Hospital
Tumkur Main Rd,
Yeswanthpur, Bengaluru-560022
Ph: 080 6122 2000
