What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?
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Jan 30, 2013
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Watch Breanna Veal, PA-C explain: UVA and UVB Rays: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?
UVA and UVB rays, it’s a big deal. There is actually going to be more research and there is actually research that’s ongoing right now regarding UVA and UVB rays. A little bit of science behind this. UVA rays: About 95 percent of UVA rays reach the actual earth’s surface and about 5 percent of UVB rays reach the earth’s surface; however, UVB rays are more intense than UVA rays. UVA rays are known to cause the wrinkles we get in the skin, versus UVB rays really cause a little bit more of the damage and more associated with the skin cancers; however, like I mentioned, there is more research going on with that because there is thought that UVA rays may also contribute to that, as well, so the best thing to know is that if you’re pretty much a fair-skinned individual, but it’s actually for all individuals, if you are of the age of 50, that you really to, to scan your skin if you have any moles that look funny, the colors are changing, the size is getting bigger, it’s bleeding, you need to let your physician know as soon as possible. Everyone should be wearing sun protection. SPF 30 is generally what is recommended to cover your skin. You need to re-apply it every two hours and you need to apply it rather generously to your skin. If you’re going to be in the water, you need to re-apply as soon as you get out because water will wipe out any of the sun protection that you have applied.