What Is The Difference Between Uva And Uvb Light

Exposure to both the rays can cause immense damage to your skin and even lead to cancer 1.

What is the difference between uva and uvb light.

Uv or ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that s divided into three different bands based on its wavelength. However uva and uvb rays affect and damage your skin in different ways. Each band has a unique set of characteristics. Uvb rays do age skin over time.

Traditional chemical sunscreen products have been more successful at blocking uvb rays than uva rays. Uvb rays are stronger or weaker depending on the time of day and season. Uva blacklight blue uvb blacklight or phototherapy and uvc germicidal. These rays are shorter but stronger than uva rays.

Unlike uva uvb rays cannot penetrate glass and a big percentage of uvb light is reflected back from reflecting surfaces like glass. Uva rays penetrate glass while uvb rays do not. Uva light helps regulate behaviors such as feeding diurnal movement mating and similar activities. Uvb rays damage the outermost layers of the skin.

There are approximately 500 times more uva rays in sunlight than uvb rays. Moreover uv rays can also be produced by various means such as electric arcs lamps and lights. Uv rays occupy 10 of total em radiation from the sun. Uvb rays is ultraviolet light coming from the sun and have a wavelength variation from 290nm to 320nm.

Uva has more penetrating power and penetrates glass while uvb does not penetrate glass. Uva is the longest wavelength penetrating the deepest and causing the vast majority upwards of 95 of uv radiation getting through earth s atmosphere. There is a strong link between uvb rays and skin cancer. They directly damage dna.

Uva rays penetrate farther into skin than uvb rays steadily destroying key substances in skin that give it its firmness and elasticity. So it s essential to know which type of uv light is the right one for your needs. Therefore in addition to protecting your skin from the effects of uvb rays it is also very important to protect from the damaging effects of the more numerous uva rays. Uvb light allows the synthesis of vitamin d3 which helps to absorb calcium.

Ultraviolet uv rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelength range from 10 to 400 nm. Both uva and uvb rays are invisible to the naked eye as they do not fall within the spectrum of visible light. Uvc light is not required for reptiles but it can help kill bacteria. They affect the skin s outer layer causing dehydration to the epidermis.

Uva rays are a leading cause of wrinkles and a cause of or major contributor to every type of skin cancer.