The sun emits 3 kinds of UV light: long wavelength UVA, medium wavelength UVB, and short wavelength UVC. The shorter the wavelength, the stronger the light. UVC rays never reach the earth, which is a good thing, because they would kill you instantly (and that’s just not good for anybody!).
UVB:
UVB rays are the burning rays that cause painful and visible sunburn. These are the ones you know about…strongest between 10am and 2pm, and during the summer months. The SPF (sun protection factor) refers to that product’s ability to block out UVB radiation. THESE RAYS CAUSE SKIN CANCER, such as nonmelanoma types, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and originate on the top layer of your skin.
UVA:
UVA rays are commonly referred to as the ‘aging rays” These are the long rays that penetrate deep into the dermis causing tremendous damage over time. They have the ability to destroy your collagen and elastin, causing wrinkles and sagging. These rays also stimulate pigment producing melanocytes which release brown melanin, resulting in brown spots on the face, hands, and chest. Persistent sun damage may cause some of these cells to die, leaving white confetti-like spots on the skin. UVA rays can mutate your DNA, eventually causing melanoma.
THE FIRST SIGN OF UVA DAMAGE APPEARS IN CHILDREN AS FRECKLES, which are the body’s first response to sun damage. Think about it, no one is born with freckles…UVA radiation is present ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, rain or shine, year round. THESE RAYS ARE AS STRONG AT 7AM AS THEY ARE AT NOON! They are so powerful that they can penetrate glass, some plastics, and clothing.
SUNSCREEN:
YOU NEED TO WEAR IT EVERYDAY!!! You know about SPF, which offers protection from UVB rays. You also need to protect yourself from UVA rays. Many sunscreens do not offer UVA protection so here is what you need to know…
The BEST UVA sunscreen agents include ZINC OXIDE, AVOBENZONE, AND MEXORYL. Less effective ingredients include oxybenzophenone and titanium dioxide. So, be careful when you see broad spectrum UVA/SPF protection! You may not be actually getting adequate UVA protection. READ READ READ THE INGREDIENTS LABEL!!!
In a nutshell…
*Wear sunscreen daily and reapply often!
*Make sure you have a sunscreen that provides UVA protection (zinc oxide, avobenzone, or mexoryl).
*It takes one teaspoonful (size of a quarter) of sunscreen to adequately protect your face.
*It takes one ounce (size of a shot glass) to adequately cover your body.
*You don’t get a “DO OVER” on your skin!!! You have to protect it now and it’s never too late to start.
Twenty minutes of sun exposure per day adds up. That is equivalent to two straight weeks (8 hours a day, 14 days total) over the course of a year. You wouldn’t spend two weeks baking the in the sun without sunscreen so…PROTECT YOUR SKIN, LADIES!!!
By Doctors Kathy Rodan and Kathy Fields
(summarized by Aimee Turner, Independent Consultant for Rodan + Fields)
