We all know about UV rays and the harm it does to our skin. The ultraviolet light beats down on our skin and is a major cause of skin cancer which is why we know that being protected with sunscreen wipes and other products is a must. But let's get a little deeper into what UV light are rather than the typical "it's bad for your skin" response.

Once you understand the science of ultraviolet rays you'll probably think twice about tanning directly under the sun and try to look for other better and safer solutions.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The picture above shows that the wavelength of visible light is between 400 to 780 nm and we see that ultraviolet rays is just below the level of visible light. This means that we cannot see UV light.

UV Light

The ultraviolet section is classified into 3 different types: UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVA light has a wavelength of 315 to 400 nm, UVB from 280 to 315 nm, and UVC from 200 to 280 nm. One important thing to note is that the shorter the wavelength the more dangerous it is to us. Thankfully, there are defensive gases on the earth that absorb all of the UVC and some of the UVA and UVB light. However, the problem is the remaining UVA and UVB rays that fall to the earth's surface. UVA and UVB rays are also much stronger between 10am and 2pm and it doesn't matter whether it is cloudy or not. That's what I thought and I never bothered to protect myself with sunscreen wipes, but after reading up on it, I realized it was because I couldn't see the light. Remember, UV light exists everywhere. We just can not see it.

Impact of UVA and UVB rays on Skin

How does all this talk on ultraviolet light affect our skin? Well, these rays damage the cells of our skin when exposed to the sun. Damaged cells either die or is restored by our own repair system. Depending on the extent of the damage done, these un-repairable dead cells turn to skin cancer.

What are UVB Rays?

When we lay down at the beach during summer, UVB is a cause for sunburn. Although UVB rays do not penetrate the skin as deep as UVA rays, it still carries a huge amount of energy. This was the reason early sunscreen products contained a UVB filter.

Research suggests that "UVB rays cause a distinctive genetic mutation that permits unabated cell growth, giving rise to cancer (Everyday Health)."

However, UVB light cannot penetrate glass so there's no risk of sunburn when you sit in a car or next to a window.

What are UVA Rays?

Compared to UVB light, 10 to 100 times more UVA rays reach to the earth. So when standing in the sun, you are exposed to more UVA than UVB. Even though UVA rays carry less energy than UVB rays, it penetrates the skin deeper and the probability of causing skin cancer is higher. UVA light is also the cause of skin aging. Furthermore, it penetrates glass. So be protected when in the car as well.