UV Safety Awareness Month

Published on July 21, 2023

Child wearing floaties in a pool

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) raises awareness that Ultraviolet light (UV) is the root cause of most skin cancers and encourages the public to take precautions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow.

Sun exposure adds up day after day, and it happens every time you are in the sun. Even though sunlight is the main source of UV rays, you don’t have to avoid the sun completely but getting too much sun can be harmful.

Health issues related to UV radiation:

  • Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to UV rays. Most of this exposure comes from the sun, but some can come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning beds and sun lamps. People who get a lot of exposure to UV rays are at greater risk for skin cancer.
  • Exposure to UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin and signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, and liver spots.
  • UV rays can also cause eye problems. They can cause the cornea (on the front of the eye) to become inflamed or burned. They can also lead to the formation of cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) and pterygium (tissue growth on the surface of the eye), both of which can impair vision.
  • Exposure to UV rays can also weaken the immune system, so that the body has a harder time fending off infections It can also cause vaccines to be less effective.

According to the American Cancer Society:

  • It is important to limit your exposure by taking the following actions.
    • Staying in the shade, especially between 10AM – 4PM.
    • Protecting your skin with clothing that covers your arms and legs.
    • Wearing a hat to protect your head, face, and neck.
    • Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays to protect your eyes and the skin around them.
    • Using sunscreen to help protect skin that isn’t covered with clothing.

For more information on UV safety visit:  weld.gov/Government/Departments/Health-and-Environment/Public-Health-Spotlight.

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