The presence of every life form on earth depends on the sun. The infrared sun ray keeps us warm & the visible ray gives us light to see by. The sun triggers the skin to produce vitamin D, a nutrient vital to physical health. While over 90% of all solar energy is beneficial to our being, a small portion of the sun rays is quite harmful.
These harmful sun rays are the cause for sunburns, premature aging, even life threatening skin cancer. They are grouped as the ultraviolet radiation (UVR), divided mainly into three ranges of electromagnetic waves: UVC, UVB & UVA.
The ozone layer of the earth's atmosphere prevents the penetration of UVC rays (the shortest wavelength) to protect us from its damage. The UVB rays (the intermediate wavelength) are absorbed by the epidermis, the outer layer of our skin. This radiation causes sunburns, induces oxygen-free radicals which mutate normal, healthy cells that may even results in skin cancer. The UVA rays (the longest wavelength in this UV spectrum) penetrate beneath the skin surface into the dermis layer, generating free radicals that affect collagen, elastin, proteoglycan & cells. UVA rays are the primary cause of photo-aging, responsible for wrinkles, leathery texture, loss of elasticity, freckles, brown spots & blotches.
To Protect Our Skin From Sun Damage
To protect the skin from damage by these harmful UVA/UVB sun rays, or slowing down the process of unavoidable photo-aging, we should protect, nourish & repair the skin from the constant assault:
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