UV rays, SPF, and skin

Question 1

what does UV stand for?

Answer 1

ultraviolet

Question 2

what are rays an abbreviation for?

Answer 2

radiation

Question 3

why are UV rays necessary and what are they emitted by?

Answer 3

necessary for vitamin D production, emitted by the sun (+ tanning beds, etc)

Question 4

what blocks most of the radiation from the sun?

Answer 4

the earth’s ozone layer

Question 5

why can’t all UV rays be blocked?

Answer 5

they travel in waves of light

Question 6

how many kinds of radiation are there? what are they?

Answer 6

3; UV-A, UV-B, UV-C

Question 7

describe UV-A

Answer 7

high wavelength, not blocked by the ozone layer, can penetrate deeper into the skin

Question 8

describe UV-B

Answer 8

middle wavelength, some is blocked but the majority of it gets through

Question 9

describe UV-C

Answer 9

low wavelength, blocked by ozone layer

Question 10

what are the two main things UV radiation can cause?

Answer 10

sunburns and skin cancers (+ aging of the skin)

Question 11

what causes sunburns?

Answer 11

prolonged exposure to UV radiation

Question 12

what do sunburns cause?

Answer 12

redness, swelling, and in more severe cases, blisters

Question 13

what occurs during cancer?

Answer 13

cells lose their ability to regulate cell growth and division, leading to too many cells dividing uncontrollably and forming tumors

Question 14

what does it mean for cancer to be benign?

Answer 14

it will not harm the body long-term

Question 15

what does it mean for cancer to be malignant?

Answer 15

it has the potential to spread and harm the body long-term

Question 16

what is it called when cancerous cells spread?

Answer 16

metastasis

Question 17

how many types of skin cancer are there? name them.

Answer 17

3: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma

Question 18

what does basal cell carcinoma affect and how common and deadly is it?

Answer 18

affects the cells of the stratum basale, extremely common but easily removed and generally not metastatic

Question 19

how does basal cell carcinoma present itself?

Answer 19

as a pearly, waxy bump on the skin

Question 20

what does squamous cell carcinoma affect and how common and deadly is it?

Answer 20

affects the epidermal layers, common and has a high chance of metastasis

Question 21

how does squamous cell carcinoma present itself?

Answer 21

as a firm red nodule or a flat, red, scaly lesion

Question 22

what do melanomas affect and how common and deadly is it?

Answer 22

melanocytes; rare but extremely deadly (high chance of metastasis and low survival rate)

Question 23

how do melanomas present themselves?

Answer 23

as a mole with irregular borders that can bleed and turn into lesions

Question 24

what is the best way to prevent cancer?

Answer 24

to protect the skin (includes protective clothing, sunblock/sunscreens)

Question 25

what do sunblocks/sunscreens do to protect the skin?

Answer 25

they act as either chemical or physical barriers against UV rays

Question 26

what does SPF stand for?

Answer 26

sun protection factor

Question 27

the higher the SPF, the ____ UV it can block

Answer 27

more

Question 28

what should you look for when purchasing sunblocks/sunscreens?

Answer 28

a high SPF and the words “broad spectrum”

Question 29

what does it mean if a sunscreen or sunblock says “broad spectrum?”

Answer 29

that it is able to block more than one type of UV