What does uva rays stand for

All types of UV radiation have the potential to damage your skin, but each type affects your skin differently. They are also strongly linked to skin cancer. How do you tell the different UV rays apart and how do they affect your skin? Summer days should be spent enjoying a little bit of sunshine, not worrying about the harmful effects of the sun and UV rays.

By arming yourself with sunscreen, protective clothing, and the right sunglasses , you can safely enjoy outdoor activities today without fear of damage to your skin later. UV radiation isn't always bad. In small doses, it actually helps us to produce vitamin D that our bodies need.

The problem occurs when UV rays frequently come in contact with our skin; its effects can be long term and detrimental. These effects show up over time when our skin is not protected. Here's exactly what you need to know about UV radiation, how it affects us, and how to keep your skin safe! UV wavelengths vary in size and differ in how they affect our skin. UVC is the shortest and not long enough to reach our skin; UVB rays come in contact with the outer layer of the skin; UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin, all the way into the inner layers.

UVC rays are actually the strongest but are mostly absorbed by the atmospheric ozone. They usually aren't destructive on our skin. UVB rays reach past the ozone layer to the superficial layers of our skin. It is the most prevalent cause of the redness, sun burning, and skin cancer. These rays can cause changes in DNA in cells directly and be one of the top culprits to skin cancer.

What Is UVC radiation? What are the risks of exposure to UVC radiation? What are the risks associated with using some UVC lamps?

What effect does UV radiation have on my body? Are there health benefits of exposure to UV radiation? Does where I live affect the amount of UV radiation I am exposed to? Q: What is UV Radiation? UV radiation is the portion of the EM spectrum between X-rays and visible light. UVB rays have a short wavelength that reaches the outer layer of your skin the epidermis UVA rays have a longer wavelength that can penetrate the middle layer of your skin the dermis Q: What is UVC Radiation?

Q: What are the risks of exposure to UVC radiation? Q: What are the risks associated with using some UVC lamps? Q: What effect does UV radiation have on my body?

Sunlight is not the only source of UV radiation you may encounter. Studies suggest that phototherapy can help treat unresponsive and severe cases of several diseases, including: Rickets Psoriasis Eczema Vitiligo Phototherapy involves exposing a patient to a carefully monitored dose of UV radiation on a regular schedule.

Many factors determine how much UV you are exposed to, including: Geography Altitude Time of year Time of day Weather conditions Reflection Geography UV rays are strongest in areas close to the equator.

Altitude Altitude is another contributing factor to the amount of UV. Time of Day UV is most intense at noon when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and UV rays have the least distance to travel through the atmosphere. Weather Conditions Many people believe that you cannot get sunburned on a cloudy day; this is simply not the case.

These rays can affect your skin in different ways. UV radiation is a form of electromagnetic energy. It can come from natural sources, such as sunlight, as well as artificial sources, such as lasers, black lights, and tanning beds. The sun is the most significant source of UV radiation. As a result, they can cause serious damage to all life forms. Fortunately, UVC radiation is completely filtered out by the ozone layer. As a result, these rays from the sun never reach the ground.

Man-made sources of UVC include welding torches, special bacteria-killing light bulbs, and mercury lamps. Although not considered a risk for skin cancer, UVC rays can cause severe damage to human eyes and skin, including burns, lesions, and ulcers on the skin. A number of environmental factors can affect when UV rays are the most powerful.

Some of these factors include:. UV exposure is highest between 10 a. This makes them more powerful. UV exposure is highest in the spring and summer months. During these seasons, the sun is at a higher angle, which increases UV ray intensity. However, the sun can still affect you during fall and winter.

UV exposure is highest in areas on or near the equator, where UV rays have less distance to travel before reaching the ground. The ozone layer provides protection from UV rays.