Recently read something about how a few bad sunburns when you’re young can cause a large increase in cancer later in your life. How can you develop cancer several decades after you’re burnt if your skin cells are constantly dying, falling off, and regrowing?
In: Biology
Human skin consist of three layers. The outermost layer called epidermis and responsible for protecting body from environment including UV lights. Epidermis have 5 more layer within. The ability of renewal of skin comes from this 5 layer. The deepest layer contains melanocytes which provides melanin to skin and basal cells. Basal cells duplicate and grow outwards and while going out they get less and less supply from body and slowly dies. But the basal cells are always there are functioning. Sunburn cause damage basal cells and melanocytes because UV lights are something called ionizing radiation. UV lights produces ions which interfere with duplication on cell nuclei of said cells. Little amounts of sunlight damage often can be tolerated but in sunburn situation cells are dying from nuclear damage from UV not from the sun heat.
The basal cells are the type of cell that does the replacing process. But they aren’t replaced and thus the damage from sun exposure builds up entire life.
Latest Answers