By now you have probably heard about ultraviolet (UV) radiation and how it can damage your skin. But how much do you really know about UV rays and their effect on your skin?
What is Ultraviolet Radiation?
Ultraviolet radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun, although it can also come from man-made sources (e.g. tanning beds, welding torches).
UV radiation is made up of three wavelength ranges — UVA, UVB and UVC. Although UVC rays have the most energy out of the three types of UV rays, they react with the ozone layer high up in the atmosphere and never make it to the ground. For this reason, UVC rays typically are not a risk factor for skin cancer.
The same cannot be said for UVA and UVB rays, however. These types of UV rays are capable of penetrating the atmosphere and play a major role in a number of conditions, including premature skin aging, eye damage and skin cancer.
UVA Rays
UVA rays account for about 95 percent of the UV radiation that reaches Earth's surface. They are the weakest of the bunch in terms of energy, but don't let that fool you. UVA rays are present at about the same level of intensity during daylight hours year-round and they can penetrate clouds and glass. These rays also penetrate the skin more deeply than their UVB counterparts, and as such play a significant role in skin aging, wrinkling and the development of skin cancer.
UVB Rays
UVB rays are more known for causing damage to the skin's upper layers, making them the main cause of skin reddening and sunburn. Unlike UVA rays, the intensity of UVB rays varies by the time of day and the season; generally they hit their peak between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April to October. That doesn't mean you can't get a sunburn in the middle of December because you can, especially if you're at high altitudes or near reflective surfaces such as water and snow.
Why Should You Care?
Skin cancer is the number one cancer in the nation, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In fact, 5.4 million Americans were diagnosed with one of the three primary types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma — in 2014.
Skin cancer is a major concern in the U.S., so it is critical that each of use is doing what we can to protect ourselves from the sun. One of the easiest ways to do this is by investing in window tinting for your car. Window film can block up to 99 percent of UV rays from penetrating your windows and windshield, providing you with a layer of protection that could prevent you from developing skin cancer.
If you're interested in learning more about how window tinting can protect you and your skin, give us a call at Executive Motorsports. Our certified technicians have been applying professional-grade window tint to cars for more than 25 years.
Check us out on GroupOn for the latest deals on window tinting, and give us a call at 713-467-7000 if you have any questions.
