Spending time in the sun is essential for your health and wellbeing. However, long periods of sun exposure without adequate sun protection can have damaging effects on your skin. SPF or Sun Protection Factor protects skin against the harmful UV rays that can lead to pigmentation, premature aging, sunburn, and in extreme cases, cancer, and is an everyday essential for healthy, radiant skin. Â
HOW DO HEV UV AND INFRARED RAYS AFFECT THE SKIN
UV, HEV and IR rays all penetrate the skin, but some are more visible than others due to the wavelength they travel in. ​Their wavelength dictates how deep they can penetrate the skin and which layer of the skin they can damage.
UVA / UVB
Common Sources:Â Sunlight and tanning beds
Skin cell penetration level:Â Top layer of the skin - Epidermis and middle layer of the skin - Dermis
Side effects of long term exposure: Premature aging, skin cancer and skin barrier damage, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation​, sun allergies such as prickly heat, DNA damage.
HEV
Common Sources:Â Sunlight and tanning beds
Skin cell penetration level:Â Middle layer of the skin - Dermis
Side effects of long term exposure: Premature skin aging​, stimulates the production of free radicals in the skin, breakdown of collagen and elastin​, hyperpigmentation​, sleep disruption
INFRARED
Common Sources:Â Electric heaters, remote controls, optical fiber and thermal imaging systems
Skin cell penetration level:Â Bottom layer of the skin - Hypodermis
Side effects of long term exposure:Â Hydration loss, degradation of collagen and elastin, hyperpigmentation
