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Legs don't get sunburnt

  • 15-07-2013 5:12pm
    #1
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭


    My bright white legs don't tan or burn. I'm a very white person so I'm very prone to burning everywhere else on my body.

    I did some research and the main explanation seems to be that legs are slightly shaded and being verticle don't get as much sunlight.

    But I don't know that that can fully explain it. I've gotten sunburned feet and the burn seems to stop at my ankle with absolutely no sign of sun further up the leg. I've sat in the sun with legs up and no reaction.

    So I'm wondering is sun burn a reaction to the sun rather than the skin actually cooking? By reaction I mean the skin decides to burn so to speak rather than just cooks under the sun. Sort of in the same way an allergic reaction is the pollen causing a reaction in the nose rather than simply blocking the nasal cavity.


Comments

  • #2
    IrishKnight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 922 ✭✭✭IrishKnight


    Sun burn is a type of radiation burn which results from harsh UV light and can cause DNA mutations. No matter where the skin is, if it get enough UV light, it will burn.

    But in terms of the lack of burning legs, consider the time of day. Was it in the evening when the UV light is less than it would be at 11am-3pm? Were you in the shade? Were you near water, glass etc?

    Also, if you are sitting down, you may be shading your legs, but your feet stick out from under said shade so that might be one reason...


  • #3
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    If you're particularly hairy, this will mitigate a lot of the danger. You'll probably feel too hot on your face or upper body and give in before your legs start to burn/tan.


  • #4
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Not particularly hairy on the legs.

    I've never, ever been burnt or tanned on the legs though, in over 30 years. So we're talking about all times of day, in Irish temps all the way through to Las Vegas hoover dam temps. I got very badly burnt in Vegas, my head had puss coming out from it but still reflector white legs.


  • #5
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,596 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    IrishKnight wrote: »
    Sun burn is a type of radiation burn which results from harsh UV light and can cause DNA mutations.
    DNA comprises of four bases ATGC

    UV can provide enough energy to cause two adjacent T's to bind together which isn't a good thing.


  • #6
    Mason Storm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75 ✭✭Mason Storm


    So how much UV is too much?


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