After posting our first article about Sun protection and Kids we decided to also create a Q&A list about UV Light. Filling it up slowly, we try to answer all general questions that come in mind when we talk about UV Light (Ultraviolet Light) and ultraviolet radiation.
Please feel free to contact us if you don’t find your answer here and we are happy to add it to our Q&A list!
Contents
What is UV light?
UV rays are not a part of the visible light spectrum. Instead, these are radiation waves with shorter wavelengths compared to visible light; though longer than the ones on which X-rays operate. UV rays are also a part of the light emitted from the sun, comprising around a tenth of all the sun’s radiation.
What materials can block UV rays?
Seeing as UV light impacts our skin the most, anti-UV ingredients are found there. These are the chemical UV blockers, such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. Apart from that, there are inorganic materials which also absorb UV rays, like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and carbon black. In practice, there are many everyday items you can use for protection against UV rays — such as UV-resistant sunglasses, sunscreen for your skin, and white fabric that’s the best for reflecting light.
What are the different types of UV light?
UV rays can be divided into three separate kinds of radiation — UVA, UVB, and UVC.
The third one is the most dangerous and potent kind of UV radiation, but it’s not capable of going through the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere. So, it’s not a significant threat to any kind of life on earth, including humans. UVA and UVB are dangerous to people. The former is weaker but it’s more capable of penetrating human skin.
