Final answer:
To make skin less sensitive to UV radiation, one could increase the amount of melanin or use sunscreens to enhance protection. Protective clothing is also effective, while the ozone layer provides natural filtering of some radiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Protection from UV Radiation
If one wanted to make skin less sensitive to UV radiation, modifying the amount and function of the pigment melanin would be key. Melanin has the crucial role of absorbing much of the ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise harm skin cells. In particular, the types of UV radiation it protects against are UV-A and UV-B. UV-A light is known for creating free radicals that result in indirect DNA damage, whereas UV-B light causes more immediate skin damage and can contribute to mutations that may lead to skin cancer.
Increasing melanin in the skin could inherently improve one's defense against UV radiation. However, the sun's rays also help in vitamin D production, important for preventing bone disorders. Therefore, it's advised by the American Academy of Dermatology to obtain vitamin D through foods or supplements rather than excessive sun exposure. Sunscreens and sunblocks supplement our body's natural defenses, often containing ingredients like Padimate O that protects against UV radiation more effectively than its predecessor, PABA.
Apart from natural and supplemental melanin-based protection, wearing sun protective clothing with a UPF rating can also shield the skin from harmful UV rays. Furthermore, the Earth's ozone layer plays a crucial role in filtering out the most harmful UV-C radiation, though we still receive enough UV-B radiation that can lead to skin damage if unprotected. Awareness and application of appropriate protective measures are essential in mitigating the risks associated with solar ultraviolet radiation.