Sun and Clouds
Preventing Skin Cancer

Life on earth depends on the sun. The sun's energy radiates through space to reach earth. This energy sustains life on our planet. But, as so often happens in the natural world, benefits come with costs. Some of the sun's energy has the ability to alter cellular life in negative as well as positive ways. It's the ultraviolet radiation from the sun that affects human skin.

Menu The Sun in History Sunscreen Labels UV Light and Sunscreen UV and Your Skin: An Interactive Simulation Percent Sunshine

The amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation we receive on our skin is a major risk factor for not only cancer, but early skin aging and other skin problems. UV radiation alters the chemical composition of skin cells, making them more susceptible to cancer. Most skin cancers develop later in a person's life, even though the cellular damage may have begun when the person was much younger. In recent years, health agencies have promoted public understanding of skin cancer–related issues. In this section, you will be able to examine some of the things you need to know about the sun and cancer and how to protect yourself as much as possible.

For more information, at other Web sites...

Livng at the Mercy of the Sun — news story about the high risk of skin cancer in a Chilean town at the edge of the Antarctic ozone hole, from the BBC.

Skin Cancer Module: Practice Exercises — a collection of modules dealing with the chemistry and biology of skin cancer prevention, from the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health Human Services.