What is ultraviolet (uv) radiation?
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a form of invisible energy given off by the sun. Ultraviolet radiation is divided into 3 wavelength ranges: • UVA rays cause skin cells to age and can cause some damage to cells’ DNA (the substance in each cell that controls its growth, division, and function). UVA rays are mainly linked to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles, but are also thought to play a role in some skin cancers. • UVB rays are mainly responsible for direct damage to the DNA, and are the rays that cause sunburns. They are also thought to cause most skin cancers. • UVC rays don’t penetrate our atmosphere and therefore are not present in sunlight. They are not normally a risk factor for skin cancer. Although UVA and UVB rays make up only a very small portion of the sun’s wavelengths, they are mainly responsible for the harmful effects of the sun on the skin. UVB radiation can damage the DNA of skin cells. If this damage affects the DNA of genes that control skin cell growth, skin cancer m
