We are having an exceptionally hot summer, and if weather predictions hold true, we can expect many more of the same. For gardeners, the excessive heat means not only that we have to water our plants more often, but that we also have to take extra care to prevent skin damage from long hours spent working in sunlight.
Overexposure to sun is an occupational hazard for anyone who spends time outdoors. As a person ages, the skin loses its ability to repair areas damaged by repeated exposure to the sun’s two types of ultraviolet rays. UVA rays cause premature aging of the skin, even through window glass. UVB rays cause sunburn but don’t pass through window glass.
A severe sunburn wreaks the most damage, but even a mild to moderate burn causes changes at the skin’s cellular level. Repeated sunburns can lead to the development of skin cancers, which often are ignored because they are painless, and initially, barely noticeable.
Basal cell carcinomas are the most common skin cancers. They often...