As the mercury drops, Dubai’s population visits the city’s beaches and pools more frequently. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recommends that during the day — especially during peak periods of summer — people should avoid the sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm. They should also apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 at least half an hour before exposure, particularly for those who are fair skinned. DHA also doesn’t recommend the use of artificial tanning beds, which are more commonly associated with females than men.
However, contrary to popular opinion, a new study recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found the opposite to be the case.
Researchers studied the behaviour of more than 600 individuals who used tanning beds across the US and were surprised by their findings. More than a third of users were men and when questioned about their behaviour, men were actually more likely to agree with statements relating to feelings of anxiousness if they were unable to tan.
Men were also more inclined to agree with sentiments about tanning beds being a form of stress relief. In fact, more than 50 per cent of the men surveyed admitted to being addicted to tanning beds, which was higher than the proportion of women.
3 side effects of too much sun
1. Skin cancer
The three types of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. All three are caused by overexposure to the sun. Essentially, the longer you sit under the rays, the greater the likelihood you have of developing the disease.
2. Damage to eyes
Without protection, too much exposure to the sun can result in damage to the retina, which is responsible for creating the images sent to the visual centre of the brain. Continued overexposure to the sun can also lead to damage to the cornea in the long term.
3. Sunburn
A common complaint here in the UAE. If you sit under the sun for an excessive amount of time, several hours later, you may find yourself with red and painful skin. In extreme cases, sunburn can also lead to blistering and flu-like symptoms such as nausea.
