Sun Science! UV rays and Fashionable Protection

For a 5 billion year old star, the Sun definitely still has some mighty strength packed into its rays. The sun actually has three types of rays; UVA (ultraviolet A long waves), UVB (ultraviolet B short waves) and UVC (ultraviolet C shortest waves, which we won't discuss here since they don't penetrate the Earth's o-zone layer.) So, what's the difference between UVA and UVB rays? What ingredients should we look for on sunscreen bottles to protect ourselves from getting scorched? And what trendy pieces can we put together to keep us looking fabulous and healthy at the same time!

First, lets answer what ultraviolet rays even means. UV radiation is part of the light spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. Because its wavelengths are shorter than that of visible light, UV rays are invisible to us. But don't be fooled by what you can't see. UV radiation damages the skin's DNA and pro-longed radiation can cause mutation of the skin's DNA leading to skin cancer.

UVA In our every day lives year-round, we are greatly exposed to UVA rays. In fact, UVA rays make up about 95% of the rays that reach the Earth. Until recently, scientist did not think that UVA rays damaged the skin, however we have now learned that UVA rays can initiate skin cancer and does in fact damage skin cells on the surface. UVA rays are the reason why we turn darker in the summer time. Although we all, including myself, love glowing bronzed skin, the darkening of the skin that we see is actually damage caused by UVA rays. The skin gets darker in an effort to prevent further damage to its DNA. This is actually a mutation-  a mutation that can lead to skin cancer!

UVB rays damage the skin outermost epidermal layer which causes redness and burning, but are less prevalent than UVA rays. The reason why sun burns hurt so much is self-explanatory. The Sun's UVB rays have literally burned your skin. UVB rays vary depending on the time of day (in the US, 10am -4pm being the peak time from April to October), however can cause permanent damage to the skin overtime.

Published by the New England Journal of Medicine,  this photo shows a truck driver who has severely sun-damaged skin - but only on the left side of his face, which is the side that faced the driver's side window of the truck. UVA rays transmitted through the window glass, penetrated the epidermis and upper layers of dermis. The other half remained unexposed. The damages to his skin from the sun are clearly evident!

So, how can we protect ourselves from the Sun's mighty and harmful arms? You can always wear clothes that will cover your skin from the sun, such as tightly knit long sleeves shirts. But who would want to wear long-sleeves in the summer? We didn't spend all winter toning our summer bodies just to cover them back up! Here is were SPF steps in. Sunscreen or sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher is a must! The number next to the SPF refers to the ability to block out UVB rays (notice I did not mention UVA rays). For example, sunscreen with SPF 30 means you can be in the sun 30 times longer than you can without sunscreen before burning. SPF 30 absorbs approximately 95% of the sun's rays!

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Look for an SPF that says broad-spectrum, meaning that will help block out both UVA and UVB rays. If you take a look at the ingredient list, find a lotion that has the sun-screening chemicals. For UVB screening, look for sunscreens with salicylates and cinnamates. For UVA screening, the ingredients oxybensone, sulisobenzone and avobenzone are what we want. Also, it is best to grab a water-proof or water-resistant SPF lotion, not only for fun in the water but also since we tend to sweat in the heat of the sun. The FDA considers a product water-resistant if it keeps its SPF levels the same after 40 minutes of water exposure, and water-proof if it keeps the same SPF levels after 80 minutes of water exposure!  Try Coppertone Broad Spectrum Sports Sunscreen. It's travel size too! For my face I like to use Neutrogena Clear Face. With its higher SPF and break-out free formula, it's ideal for my sensitive skin!

Of course, we can be fashionable at the same time. Grab a big floppy hat from your local store, like this navy/white striped sunhat from Target for only $12! How cute! Of course you want to protect your eyes as well. Eyelids are incredibly thin and do little to protect your eyeballs from the sun's harmful rays.  A pair of sunglasses, such as "The Clubmasters" from Ray Ban, are not only stylish but help protect your eyes too. Ask an associate for one that will block at least 98% of the rays. And last , but never the least, don't forget to pucker up with some tinted lip balm containing SPF such as this one from e.l.f. studio, which you can also find at Target!


With your sun science education in your pocket, you are now definitely ready to hit the beach, enjoy the sun, and stay healthy all summer long! Leave a comment below if you have any further tips on how we can make the most of our summer days while putting our health first!