Are you aware of the fact that almost all the part of your body is vulnerable to sun poisoning?
The main hot spots are your forehead, cheeks, shoulders and the most affected ones your lips.
But why only lips?
For the answer, first have a look at some of the facts related to one of the most sensitive parts of the body.
Your lips…..
The sun causes long lasting damage to the lips.
How?
Collagen, a protein that gives elasticity to the skin, gets damaged when exposed to the sun.
Too much sun exposure causes collagen protein to denature, it gets remodelled from its natural 3D state further causing the lips to wrinkle.
Thus fine lines start to develop around the face.
Prolonged exposure to the sun results in the development of a condition called as actinic cheilitis commonly called as “farmers lip” or “sailors lip”.
People with this problem face continuous dryness, cracking, pernicious lesions and extensive wrinkles.
Most of us are aware that UV rays decrease during the winter months.
Is it so?
Not really…
UV rays are present all the year round , only the levels of UVB decreases in winters, but the levels of UVA rays remains constant in the environment.
The burning effects of the sun rays multiplies when they get reflected from sand or water, at higher altitudes there is an increased risk because the air here is thinner and thus screens fewer sun rays.
Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms, damage can occur. Absence of surface sunburns doesn’t imply that the underlying layers are not damaged.
A study has revealed that over 3,500 new cases of lip skin cancer are diagnosed every year and amongst them the major ones are squamous cell carcinoma cancers.
So can your lips be prevented from the allergic reactions of sun?
Yes, by identifying the symptoms present on lips.
Let’s discuss some of them in detail.
All the above symptoms mean that you and your lips are having an allergic reaction to sun.
Fortunately there are many remedies available at home that are easy to use and economical too.
But if your lips are prone to chapping, cracking and dryness you have to be extra careful for their protection.