UVA VS UVB

UVA (ultraviolet-A): long- wave solar rays of 320-400 nanometers (billionths of a meter). Although less likely than UVB to cause sunburn, UVA penetrates the skin more deeply, and is considered the chief culprit behind wrinkling, leathering, and other aspects of "photoaging."

Prolonged exposure of UVA cracks and shrinks the collagen and elastin of our skin. When UVA rays damage these components of our skin it looses strength and elasticity thus causing wrinkles, sagging, leathery skin and… aging!

The latest studies show that UVA not only increases UVB 's cancer-causing effects, but may directly cause some skin cancers, including melanomas.

UVB (ultraviolet-B): short-wave solar rays of 290-320 nanometers. More potent than UVA in producing sunburn, Therefore these rays are considered the main cause of skin cancers, (basal and squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma).

Sometimes called the "tanning ray", UVB rays stimulate the melanocyte cell, (located in the bottom layer of the skin), to produce the brown pigment melanin, producing a suntan as a defense against UV radiation.