UV radiation is a type of energy produced by the sun. You can see the light and feel the heat from the sun, but the radiation is invisible to us. The radiation reaches our skin without us realising and we won't see the damage until it's been done.
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UV radiation comes in 2 mains forms - UVA and UVB radiation
1. UVA Radiation
These rays give you a 'sun tan'. They are longer wavelength, penetrate deeper into the skin and target the DNA of the skin cells. It also means the rays are targeting our most precious structures - collagen and elastin. They are responsible for much of the damage we associate with photo-ageing.
2. UVB Radiation
UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays. They target the skin cells at the surface and are the main culprit behind sunburn. This can result is redness, pain and discomfort, so as the peeling off of the skin, not to mention the damage that has been done to our skin cells. UVB rays are also the biggest culprit in the formation of skin cancers!
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