|  | Cancer | Skin Cancer

Why Is UV Light Bad for Your Skin?

Light in the ultraviolet spectrum has a wavelength between 40 and 400 nanometers and cannot be detected by the human eye, according to the Health Physics Society. Although the sun emits most of the UV light that enters Earth, and the human body does need some to keep healthy, UV can turn deadly over time.

  1. Types

    • Scientists divide ultraviolet light up into three broad groups in order of increasing wavelength: C, B and A, according to the HPS. All UV light comes from the Sun and can have harmful effects on the body, but only UVA and UVB are experienced by the average person. Earth's atmosphere intercepts nearly all UVC light--the most energetic and used in germicidal lamps--and the ozone layer blocks the majority of UVB light from penetrating the atmosphere. Most UV light comes in the form of UVA; common examples of this include blacklights and tanning beds.

    Effects

    • UV light gives people a tanned look, but this actually means you have skin damage, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Too much sunlight and you could end up with a sunburn and eventually UV light can cause your skin to wrinkle. UV light's most damaging effect is an increase in skin cancer.

    Function

    • Ultraviolet light is small enough that it can get through to the deepest layers of the skin and cause damage to your body's DNA--enzymes that carry the genetic code of your body. Although the body's natural defenses can repair most of this broken DNA, some DNA remains unrepairable, which can lead to mutations and cancerous tumors, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

    Misconceptions

    • Most of the effects of UVC and UVA are short-term skin irritation. Since most tanning booths use UVA, tanning salons and producers often claim that tanning beds are a safe way to tan--this is untrue, according to FamilyDoctor.org. UVA can still cause cancer and actually gets farther into the skin than UVB.

    Tips

    • FamilyDoctor.org recommends avoiding sunlight during the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest and to not use tanning booths at all. Purchase sun glasses that wrap around your head and can block at least 99 percent of UVA light. Always wear a hat outside, clothing to cover most of your body and check with your physician if you notice unusual spots on your skin.

Skin Cancer - Related Articles