The question is, what are UV-A and UV-B? When talking about sun light, tanning and burning, you often hear that there are two types of Ultra violet (UV) light that the sun sends to us.


UV-A and UV-B are the names of these two types of light. Although we call it light, it is not visible to our eyes because of the wave length of this UV light is so short that our eyes can not perceive it. The closest color to this wave length that we can see is violet and this is the reason why this light is called Ultra violet. Because of the short wave length, the waves of this light also have a high frequencey and can emit a lot of energy when they meet a surface that absorbs the light and, therefore, its energy.

When it meets our skin the light (and its energy) is absorbed into the skin and chemical reactions start with this energy. One of these reactions results in the forming of Melanin, the natural pigment of our skin. This gives us a suntan and it is primarily caused by UV-A when the UV light that reaches the skin, is of a shorter wave length (like UV-B with a wavelength of 290- 320 nanometers) it may not result in tanning but, because of the higher energy of content of the light, it will primarily damage the skin leaving a redness known as sunburn. This is caused by UV-B and it also is this UV-B light that is primarily responsible for skin cancer.

So the difference between UV-A and UV-B is not a difference in types of light but only in wavelength and energy. The two wavelengths are so close that you may say that there is only a minimal difference between UV-B and UV-A.

To Avoid Sunburn a Little Advice:

The first day of your vacation calls for a high protection if you have not been exposed to the sun for sometime. Especially people with a fair complexion or sensitive skin have to start with a protection factor of 8 or higher. But, in any case don’t stay in the sun on your first day longer than 1 hour, and that is using a lotion with a high protection. After the first day you know better what the local sun does to your skin and what you can use as protection and how long.

The main lessons are:

Start carefully and always use protection.
Re-apply the suntan lotion after swimming and exercise or use a waterproof suntan lotion that does not need frequent reapplying when swimming or exercising.
Always use some sort of lotion or oil when in the sun, it will give you a better and longer lasting tan.
The science of suntan lotions has come a long way, we now have a choice of almost 20 good of excellent sun screens and basic waterproof formulas that ensure the effectiveness of the sunscreen for a prolonged time even after a period of 80 minutes of swimming.
The best moisturizers and softening agents are used in suntan products because of the drying effect of the sunlight.
For people with sensitive skin, people who have to work all day long in the sun, or people who have a skin that reacts negative to UV light, these products are a very important breakthrough in the science of suntan products.

With a single application of these products, you can go in the sun and your skin will not react to the sun even after prolonged sunlight exposure. For a whole day two applications may be necessary.

The best of these products are the once with a protection factor of around 30 that are labeled hypo-allergenic. If you are sunburned, you are not burning the layer at the surface of your skin. These are dead cells are are not destroyed. What you are burning are your living cells in your skin. These cells are getting inflamed and increased blood circulation causes the immediate the redness of your skin.

Always remember that sunburn is a swear and adverse reaction your body is confronted with. With sunburn your damage cells are not able any longer to differentiate and to form this perfect skin barrier. To prevent this, you need to use proper protection for your skin in the form of suntan lotion of oils.

Home Made Tips to avoid Sunburn:

Once you infected from sunburn you have to look after your skin very carefully and do not use so much chemicals on your skin.Simply apply the great antibiotic oil of tea tree it will soothes your skin so much and its also very effective for burning and itchiness of skin.

Take some cold milk and apply very gently on your sun burn areas with cotton r cleansing balls. It will immediately helps your skin from burning and you will feel good.

Try to drink lots of water.

Make a paste of mint or fenu greek leave which one you can find easily. keep it in freezer for 5 to 8 minutes than apply this paste on sunburn areas of skin ,face or body. It is a cool magic to soothe rash skin.