Whether at beaches, barbeques, hanging out in the park or at the pool, most people catch more sun rays this season than other times of the year. In the process, some will get a suntan while others, unfortunately, will experience the painful redness, peeling and blistering that can occur with a bad sunburn.
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00:00Why does the sun cause sunburns?
00:04Nothing spoils a day outdoors faster than sunburn.
00:07But what's actually going on with your skin when it goes from tan to burn?
00:12Or, for some people, straight to burn.
00:15Everyone's skin contains a pigment called melanin.
00:18The more melanin a person has, the darker their skin.
00:21Now, melanin plays an important role when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun.
00:26The pigment absorbs UV radiation, protecting your skin from its damaging effects.
00:31In fact, the reason a person tans in the first place is actually a defense mechanism.
00:37When UV rays hit your skin, your body starts to make more melanin.
00:41Because the more melanin you have, the better protected you are.
00:44And the more melanin your skin produces, the darker your tan.
00:48Now, you may be thinking, if the body has this great natural defense, why do we still get burned?
00:54Well, each person can only produce so much melanin, an amount that's determined by your genetics.
01:00Simply put, most people aren't able to make enough to adequately protect their skin.
01:05And when the melanin runs out, the burns begin.
01:09Damage from the sun essentially causes skin cells to die off.
01:12And when this happens, the body sends blood to the area to help the healing process,
01:17giving your skin that bright red color.
01:20It also sends immune molecules that lead to pain and inflammation.
01:24So think of melanin as your first line of defense, but it shouldn't be your only line of defense.
01:29That's where sunscreen comes in.
01:31Why sun burns the skin. Just another one of life's little mysteries.