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| Summer Beach Set Image by Africa Photo, thanks to Shutterstock |
After spending a week away in the South of
France where we had mixed weather but still some horrid sunburn I’ve been
prompted to write a post about sun protection products available here in the
U.K. It’s a bit of a minefield really, you choose a well-known brand name like
Ambre Solaire or Nivea and you assume that all is good and you have chosen well
for your family but it might not be the case! Read on for a low down on what
all the different terms on your packaging mean and how to make an informed choice
this summer. Skin care is important for all ages.
UV Rays
There is so much information out there about the
ultraviolet rays that come from the sun and it can get a bit confusing but I’ll
just share the basics in layman’s terms. UV radiation from the sun comes in
three wavelengths - UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC does not penetrate our ozone and thus
we’re only concerned with the other two.
UVA (Ultraviolet A - long-wave)
Most of us are exposed to large amounts of UVA
rays in our lifetimes and it has long been established as a cause of premature
ageing and wrinkling but was less associated with damage to the epidermis (the
outer layers of the skin) which is commonly associated with skin cancer. However this is changing as newer research
shows that UVA damages skin cells in the base layer of the epidermis as well as
penetrating deeply.
UVA is the dominant tanning ray and whilst many
of us love that brown glow our skin develops in the summer it is actually in
response to our skins DNA being damaged and these imperfections can lead to
skin cancer. UVA rays are present during daylight hours and they penetrate
clouds and even glass.
UVB (Ultraviolet B - shortwave)
Are the rays that cause skin reddening and
sunburn. They are just as damaging as UVA rays penetrating the outer layers of
the skin and can significantly contribute to skin cancer.