July is UV Awareness Month, highlighting the health impacts of UV exposure and how to avoid them.
As we approach the dog days of summer this July, long days outside in the sun are a given. Though sun tanning and outdoor activities are a great way to relax in the summer, it is important to recognize that the sun’s rays emit natural ultraviolet radiation (UV), which can be harmful to your health.
UV radiation is classified into three primary types: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC), based on their wavelengths. “Exposure to UVB and UVA rays, measured in nanometers (nm), each one-billionth of a meter, causes damage that can lead to skin cancer,” said Dr. Elizabeth K. Hale, senior vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation, and clinical associate professor of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center.
UVB rays (light in the 290–320 nm part of the solar spectrum) are responsible for sunburns, and UVA rays (light in the 320–400 nm part of the solar spectrum) are the major contributor to photoaging, characterized by fine and coarse wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and loss of elasticity, said Dr. Hale.
UVA and UVB radiation both impact health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and remains constant throughout the year.
“Both UVA and UVB radiation cause the majority of skin cancers that people experience today,” said Dr. Hale. “In contrast to UVB, UVA is not filtered significantly by the ozone layer, and more than 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface is in the UVA region. The amount of UVA radiation is consistent throughout the year because it is not as strongly affected by weather conditions or sun angle.”
Harmful effect of UV radiation
The risk of harmful health impacts from UV radiation increases in people who spend a lot of time in the sun, have been sunburned previously, have light skin tones, have a family member diagnosed with skin cancer, are over the age of 50, or for those that take certain types of medications, according to the CDC.
“There is a public misconception that people with darker skin tones don’t need to worry about skin cancer. That is simply not true,” said Dr. Hale. “People with darker skin tones do have lower skin cancer incidence rates, but they still get skin cancer. And, partly due to this misconception, many of them are diagnosed with skin cancer at later stages, when the disease is more difficult to treat.”
Throughout a person’s lifetime, having five or more sunburns doubles the risk of developing melanoma, a skin cancer that typically starts on skin that is exposed to the sun often, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
“UV radiation is a proven human carcinogen,” said Dr. Hale. “Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in skin cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to skin cancer and premature aging.”
Skin cancer related to UV exposure is cumulative, said Dr. Hale, and everyone should be concerned about sun protection regardless of their age. The damage done to skin as a young adult can show up as skin cancer later in life.
“While your body can repair some of the DNA damage in skin cells, it can’t repair all of it,” said Dr. Hale. “The unrepaired damage builds up over time and triggers mutations that cause skin cells to multiply rapidly. That can lead to cancerous tumors.”
UV safety
Nearly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. The incidence of skin cancer is rising, and misinformation on social media that encourages skipping sun protection is also increasing, said Dr. Hale.
“The majority of skin cancers are completely avoidable with proper sun protection habits,” said Dr. Hale. “We can absolutely lower our skin cancer incidence by simply protecting our skin from UV exposure.”
To protect from the harmful effects of UV radiation, individuals should wear clothes that cover the arms and legs, and a hat that covers the head and neck when outside, stay in the shade outdoors (especially in the middle of the day), use sunscreen SPF 15 or higher, and avoid using indoor tanning beds.
“Since its inception in 1979, the Skin Cancer Foundation has recommended following a complete sun protection strategy that includes seeking shade, using sunscreen daily and covering up with clothing, hats and sunglasses,” said Dr. Hale.
Sunscreen is an important part of an effective sun protection strategy and works to prevent UV damage, said Dr. Hale, through its physical ingredients (including titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) as well as chemical filters (like avobenzone, octisalate and octocrylene) before they can harm your skin.
“The Skin Cancer Foundation Photobiology Committee just increased its Seal of Recommendation criteria for sunscreen to SPF 30 for Daily Use products and SPF 50 for Active products,” said Dr. Hale. “The committee also increased the broad-spectrum protection for sunscreens that carry the Seal of Recommendation to a critical wavelength of 373 nm.”
Healthcare providers and UV awareness
Healthcare providers play an important role in patient education on UV Awareness, emphasizing the link between sun exposure and skin cancer and the need for practicing sun safety.
“The healthcare community, including dermatologists and other healthcare providers, can help the public a good deal by recommending that everyone follow a complete sun protection strategy,” said Dr. Hale.
“The Skin Cancer Foundation also supports physicians’ efforts to educate their patients, online and in print, with brochures like Your Daily Sun Protection Guide,” said Dr. Hale. “This medically reviewed brochure gives patients everything they need to know to be able to start their own basic sun protection strategy.”
The Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer, from the CDC, were specifically designed to provide schools with a comprehensive approach to spreading UV awareness and preventing skin cancer among adolescents and young people. Additionally, the 2025 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer calls on organizations in prevention from various sectors across the nation to address skin cancer as a major public health problem.
“Public institutions must continue to take a more active role in educating the public over the next five to ten years to promote skin health and UV awareness,” said Dr. Hale. “The Skin Cancer Foundation can be a great resource for institutions that are looking for information or collateral to share with their communities.”
“The Foundation was able to reach millions with this potentially lifesaving message in 2024, but we can only go so far alone,” said Dr. Hale. “We need our health care and community partners to help us change behaviors and save lives.”
Survey: Gen Z less informed about sun’s harmful rays
A recent American Academy of Dermatology survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults reveals a troubling reality – many Americans are unwittingly increasing their skin cancer risk due to a lack of sun protection knowledge. Gen Z is the most at risk, the ADA said.
Gen Z adults are less informed about how to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays and also more likely to believe myths and misconceptions that put them at further risk, according to the survey. In fact, nearly a quarter of all Gen Z survey respondents get a grade of “D” or “F” when surveyed on their knowledge of skin protection facts.
“Unlike previous generations who have seen firsthand the effects of sun damage, younger adults may not fully grasp these dangers – especially with the influence of social media trends that promote tanning,” said Veena Vanchinathan, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Jose, Calif. “It’s crucial that these young adults learn about proper sun protection, and that regular skin checks can make all the difference in diagnosing skin cancer early, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.”
Unprotected exposure to the sun’s harmful rays is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States that affects nearly 1 in 5 people during their lifetime. However, it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer and is highly treatable when detected early, the ADA noted.