The National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warn that at least 20 states could experience elevated ultraviolet radiation levels this weekend.
UV radiation is measured on a scale of 1 to 11. Parts of these states could see UV levels of 11, where skin could burn in just minutes. Exposure to elevated UV levels poses the risk of skin burns, eye damage, and long-term health problems like skin cancer.
"The UV index [UVI] is a measure of the sunburning power of sunlight ... The higher the UVI, the shorter the time you need in the sun to burn," said Antony Young, a professor at King's College, London.
The states under extreme heat watch are California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
In the cases of UV levels at 11 or above, experts advise residents to avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's also advised to reapply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours, stay in the shade, wear full coverage, and use sun protection.
Exposure to sunlight can also cause photoaging. Prolonged and repeated exposure to UV radiation can cause skin to prematurely age. Further, some 700 people die in the U.S. each year due to extreme heat.
"Sunburn is a risk factor for melanoma skin cancer, which is the most serious of the skin cancers," said Richard Weller, a professor of medical dermatology at the U.K.'s University of Edinburgh.
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/BtsO8nI
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