UVA and UVB Rays - What’s the Difference? What Does the SPF Rating Mean in Sunscreens?

Light and the heat from the sun help sustain life on earth. Yet, sunlight can also be harmful. Sunlight is composed of different rays, these include ultraviolet rays that can be harmful to humans. UVA and UVB are two types of ultraviolet rays that can affect skin health and cause other problems.

Sunscreens help protect you from the harmful effects of theserays. However, before you go shopping for a good sunscreen to add to your summer skin care kit, you need to understand some of the basics about UV rays and sunscreen ratings.

This will help you choose the right sunscreen for skin protection like the Kaya Youth Protect Sunscreen SPF 50. Let’s take a look at what UVA and UVB rays are and the different kinds of sunscreens available in the market.

UVA Rays and UVB Rays

Sunlight consists of both visible light and lights that are not visible to human eyes. Ultraviolet rays are in the invisible light spectrum. Most of the light that reaches the earth is filtered through the atmospheric layers and most of the unhealthy rays do not reach the earth's surface. However, some do, like the UVA and UVB rays.

UVB rays are short wavelength rays. The intensity of UVB rays is not uniform. It can vary by season, region, and altitude. They have a wavelength (in nanometers) of 290 nm to 320 nm. They do not penetrate the skin deeply. Yet, they are potentially more harmful as they are directly linked to skin cancer. They cause sunburn and over exposure can even lead to cancer. This is why most sunscreens focus on blocking out UVB rays more than UVA rays.

UVA rays are long wavelength rays. They have a wavelength of 320 nm to 400 nm and so are capable of penetrating deep into the skin. They do not cause any quickly obvious outward effects like UVB rays do in the form of sunburn.

UVA rays can darken skin, damage skin cells, and collagen. All these lead to skin damage like sunspots, wrinkles, and skin discoloration. Collagen damage caused by UVA rays can cause the skin to lose its firmness and suppleness.

So, it’s important that you protect your skin while being out in the sun, even if you are out for a few minutes. Use a product like Kaya Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 for daily protection against UV rays.

Sunscreens

Sunscreens are designed to provide a protective coating on the skin that can block the UV rays and prevent skin damage. They are also specially formulated to provide maximum protection against the cancer causing UVB rays which also cause painful sunburns.

Sunscreens and SPF

Sunscreens come with an SPF rating. SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF number indicates the level of protection the sunscreen can provide against ultraviolet rays. As sunscreens are optimized for protection against UVB rays, you should look for products that also shield you against UVA rays which are always present irrespective of season. Look for sun protection creams that are labeled as “Broad Spectrum”. These have been specifically designed for blocking out UVA rays as well as UVB rays.

SPF Numbers

The SPF ratings are indicative of the level of protection they can provide against sun damage. The numbers also indicate the percentage of UVB rays the sunscreen can shield you against.

If a sunscreen has an SPF of 15, it can enhance your resistance to UVB rays by a factor of 15. For instance, if your skin can resist the harmful effects of UVB rays for 10 minutes, an SPF 15 sunscreen can potentially help you resist sun damage for 10 x 15 minutes, that's, 150 minutes. This is just a rough estimate. The sunscreen protection can be affected by many factors like your skin type, how much sunscreen you have used, and so on. Choose a sunscreen like Kaya Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 15 if your skin type is highly sensitive.

The SPF numbers can also indicate the percentage of UVB rays they can block. SPF 15 indicates that the product can keep out 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 rated sunscreens can keep out 97%, and SPF 50 can block out 98% of UVB rays. For optimal protection, buy broad spectrum sunscreens which also block out UVA rays. The Kaya Ultra-Light Aquagel Sunscreen SPF 25 is a broad spectrum sunscreen for oily skin and for combination skin types.

Choose the best sunscreen products that suits your skin and your lifestyle. Protect yourself against the harsh rays of the sun. Stay free of sunburns and other sun damage during this summer.