{"id":111094,"date":"2022-07-06T09:25:24","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T09:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dermatica.co.uk\/skinlab\/uva-and-uvb-whats-the-difference\/"},"modified":"2023-02-03T11:03:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T11:03:15","slug":"uva-and-uvb-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dermatica.com\/skinlab\/uva-and-uvb-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"UVA and UVB \u2014 What’s The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

You\u2019re probably heard about the importance of protecting your skin from the sun\u2019s UVA and UVB rays. But what\u2019s the difference between them, and why exactly does it matter? Let\u2019s break it down and decode the differences between the two, so you can choose the best protection for your skin, all year long\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is UV?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

UV stands for ultraviolet<\/em>, a type of energy emitted by the sun and sunbeds. UVA and UVB are simply two different types of UV: \u2018Type A\u2019 and \u2018Type B\u2019. You may find it helpful to think of A as ageing and B as burning, but that\u2019s not the full picture\u2026<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

UVA and UVB: The key facts<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

First up, UVA is almost everywhere! It makes up to 95 percent of the UV radiation that reaches the earth, even penetrating windows and cloud cover. We\u2019re all exposed to high levels of UVA rays throughout our lifetime, so it\u2019s important to protect yourself from it daily, even if it\u2019s cloudy or you\u2019re staying indoors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Unlike UVA, UVB can\u2019t damage your skin through glass, but that doesn\u2019t make it any less dangerous. In fact, UVB is more likely to cause burning, meaning it\u2019s extra important to protect yourself from these rays if you\u2019re going outdoors in the sun. It can<\/em> be harmful all year round, especially at high altitudes or when reflected off snow and ice, but its intensity fluctuates throughout the day. These rays are strongest \u2014 and pose the highest risk to you \u2014 between late morning and mid-afternoon from spring through to autumn.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Science: UVA & UVB<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The key difference between UVA and UVB all comes down to wavelengths.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

UVB rays are stronger and shorter, damaging the outer layers of your skin, which is why they\u2019re largely responsible for sunburn and redness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

UVA wavelengths are longer and can reach the deeper layers of your skin, causing long-term effects like wrinkles, pigmentation and tanning.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It was once thought that to stay \u2018safe\u2019 from the sun, you could protect yourself from UVB with sunscreen and only expose your skin to UVA \u2014 that\u2019s why most sunbeds are UVA-only and why early sunscreens only protected skin from UVB rays. Experts now unequivocally agree that both are a definite danger to skin, with the potential to cause skin cancer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So how do you stay protected from them?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"UVA and UVB protection<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

To defend your skin from UVA and UVB, look out for a \u2018broad spectrum\u2019 sunscreen, which will help protect your skin from both. At Dermatica, we recommend a minimum of SPF 30 or higher. Wear it every day, all year round, and reapply it at least every two hours \u2014 especially if you\u2019re swimming or sweating. For more on how to get the most out of your SPF, read our recent article<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Remember, no sunscreens block all UVB rays \u2014 SPF 30 will only protect you from around 97%. Other protective measures include UV window film for your home or car for further protection, and staying covered up in the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses or protective clothing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Want to know more? Head to your dashboard<\/a> to speak to one of our dermatology experts. New to Dermatica? Sign up<\/a> today.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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