Ailments and Situations - Sunburn - A vs. B vs. C |
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Page 2 of 9 Sunlight is composed of a number of different kinds of light. One portion of the spectrum is called ultraviolet light, which is further divided into three categories: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB penetrate our skin, while UVC is blocked by earth's atmosphere. UVA rays penetrate deep into your skin, resulting in long-term damage such as wrinkles, sagging, and acceleration of the natural aging process. Unlike UVB rays, UVA's do not burn the upper layer of your skin (see below). They do contribute to the development of skin cancer. UVA rays promote solar allergies and can also affect the immune system. They are able to penetrate glass and plastic and their intensity is relatively constant, regardless of season or time of day. UVB rays (280 to 320nm) tan and burn your skin and are the most commonly known. They penetrate the upper layer of the skin, causing sunburn -- a warning sign of excess sun exposure and more permanent UVA damage. UVB's can cause permanent clouding of the eye (cataracts) that significantly reduce vision. It is also believed that UVB rays may initiate skin cancer development. UVB is stronger during the summer and between the hours of 11AM and 4PM. Higher altitudes and equatorial regions also increase the strength of UVB rays. UVC rays are the most dangerous, but are normally blocked by the atmospheric ozone layer and do not reach the surface. |
