When trying to protect your skin from the sun it can be a bit confusing with all this UVA and UVB, and SPF talk. You may wonder which one is better? Should get the one that protects you more from UVA rays, or should you be worried about UVB ray? Do you need protection from both? See how confusing it can get! The answer is simple you need protection from both types, all types of UV rays even indoor types like the UV rays that are found in tanning beds. In this article we will discuss why you need to avoid all types of UV rays.
The UV Definition
Officially there are three types of ultra violet rays that come from the sun. They are classified as your UVA UVB and UVC. The UVA rays are the rays that are the longest and reach all the way into the earth’s atmosphere. UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays but they still penetrate the earth’s atmosphere and are the rays that are responsible for skin sunburns. UVC are the shortest rays most of these rays scientist say mostly never go past the ozone layer so they hardly ever reach the earth so many think this type of UV ray is not important. This is why there is not much focus on UVC rays, but there should be because you never know some UVC rays just may pass through and actually reach the earth, which why you need to avoid all types of UV rays.
It is the UVA and UVB rays that get all the attention though. These rays are the main reasons why you need to avoid all types of UV rays for both these rays are very skin damaging. UVA rays are especially harmful because these rays can penetrate through glass, and clothes. Even the artificial UV rays in tanning salons should be avoided. Though you may be under them for a shorter period of time the UV rays in tanning salons contain 12 times the amount of UV radiation than the natural sun. UVA rays are said to be their strongest mostly in the summer months between 10 am to 4 pm, but they are dangerous still all year round. UVA rays also are the main culprit behind the development of skin cancer due to these rays get absorbed into our skin affecting our skin at cellular level in the dermis area.
UVB rays while shorter still reach into our atmosphere. They do not penetrate deep like UVA rays do, but still these rays are dangerous effecting the surface layer of our skin burning and damaging it which can also lead to skin cancer, and skin aging. So this is why you need to avoid all types of UV rays.