UV RAYS: UVA vs. UVB

We all know the sun can damage our skin causing premature aging and even cancer but most of us do not know how or why. It can be hard to know what to look for when you need to protect your skin because it is easy to get confused about who does what UV light is much easier to figure out how to protect yourself if you know what you are protecting yourself from. The sun has 2 types of UV (ultraviolet), rays: 1. UVA 2. UVB UVA: Long-wave solar rays of 320-400 nanometers (billionths of a meter). You almost never safe from exposure to UVA rays because they can go through the windows, light clothing and even your windshield, so if you are outside you get exposed to UVA light. UVA rays are responsible for aging. They are less likely than UVB rays cause sunburn but UVA penetrates deeper into the skin, causing wrinkles and skin beating. Too long UVA cracks and shrinks collagen and elastin of the skin. Our Collagen forms 75% of our skin and the fibrous protein of skin, cartilage, bone and other connective tissue. Along with elastin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. elastin, a protein in connective tissue is elastic and allows skin to continue to shape after stretching or contracting. While UVA rays damage the components of our skin will lose strength and elasticity, causing wrinkles, sagging, leathery skin and ... aging! If it's not bad enough studies show that UVA not only exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB, but also can directly induce some skin cancers, including melanoma. UVB:. short-wave solar rays of 290-320 nanometers stronger UVB rays than UVA in producing sunburn. Therefore, this beam is considered as the main cause of skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma). Sometimes called the "tanning ray", UVB rays stimulate the melanocyte cell, (located in the lower layers of skin), to produce the brown pigment melanin, producing sun as a defense against UV radiation. So even if it's overcast day and you're driving in your car you get exposed to harmful UV rays from the sun. That is why it is so important to prtoect your skin with sunscreen and UV protective clothing at all times, (especially if you work, play or on vacation from the outside).