There is so much I could write about sun damage. If you’re here reading this, you probably care about the effects ageing. UV Rays/Sun Damage is the cause of 90% of the signs of ageing.
There are multiple types of Ultra-violet (UV) Rays from the Sun. To be specific there are 3 main types. UVA, UVB and UVC. There is more about those in my ‘everything you need to know about SPF’ post, you can find that here.
Ultra-Violet B (UVB) UV Rays
UVB are those pesky sun rays which cause our skin to go pink, red and burn. Even blister. They are the UV rays which cause us to see the most immediate effects of sun damage. UV rays are present all year round. Including those days where it is dark, overcast and raining.
When purchasing a SPF, you most likely do it to prevent sunburn. The SPF rating whether it is 15, 30 or 50. This is what protects us from UVB Rays. It is important to note that these are their strongest during the hours of 10am and 4pm. But these rays still play a part in the development of skin cancers.
Ultra-Violet A (UVA)
UVA are the rays which penetrate deeper into the skins layers, and cause damage deeper than just at the surface. UVA play the largest part in the development of skin cancers and are the main contributors to the signs of ageing. For these reasons we need to keep ourselves protected.
UVA rays are around all day long, all year long. Whenever you see daylight, there are UVA rays present and they are at a fairly consistent intensity all day long. UVA rays due to their wavelength are also capable of penetrating through glass. So it is important to wear sun protection all year round because these rays are silently damaging your unprotected skin, even your office desk and in your car.
To ensure you are protected from these rays look out for ‘broad spectrum’ on your sun protection bottles and check the ‘star rating’. remember 5* is the best rating and this protects from both UVA and UBV rays.
Ultra-violet C (UVC)
Okay, so this one you may be less familiar with. Fortunately the reason you are less aware of this one is because it is far less likely to ever cause you damage.
UVC is absorbed by the atmosphere of the earth and therefore doesn’t reach us.
Protecting Yourself From UV Rays
Some of the solutions are probably well known to you anyway; but wearing a hat and staying out of the midday sun will help reduce the risk of harmful UV damage to your skin.
Remember UVA – Ageing. UVB – Burning. This is a good way to remember the two types.
The key is to wear a suitable SPF, you can have either a tanning oil, sunscreen oil or sun lotion whichever suits you best. I have a blog post which outlines the differences and will hopefully help you make the right purchase for you.
Come sun, sleet or snow you should always be wearing your SPF to protect you from the signs of ageing! So invest in a good facial SPF to keep your skin youthful longer.
