Why Sun Radiation is harmful?
In spite of its beneficial role, sun radiation is becoming very dangerous to humans due to its side effects. Those side effects vary according to the type of sun radiation, since each type penetrates into the skin to a different depth.
- UVC radiation is extremely toxic but luckily is fully contained within the ozone layer.
- UVB radiation is responsible for sunburns, which may range from light erythema to painful burn and blisters, and a variety of skin cancers.
- UVA radiation is responsible for:
– the photo-aging of the skin.
– the formation of free radicals, which cause premature aging.
– the interaction with collagen fibres, resulting into loss of elasticity and suppleness of the skin.
– DNA alterations and Langherhans cells’ destruction, which lead to various skin cancers, i.e melanoma.
Recent studies prove that UVA acts synergistically with UVB radiation for the formation of skin carcinomas.
- High Energy Visible (HEV) radiation, most importantly Blue Light radiation, penetrates the skin much deeper than both UVA and UVB radiation. It induces oxidative stress, weakens the epidermal barrier, enhances hyperpigmentation and damages the extracellular matrix, leading to accelerated skin aging.
- Infrared (IR) radiation or “thermal radiation”, also penetrates the skin much deeper than UVA or UVB radiation. It causes cutaneous aging, actinic elastosis and vasolidation. It enhances the damaging effects of UVA and UVB radiation.
The intensity of UVB radiation varies according to the geographical latitude, to the season of the year and to the time of the day. UVB radiation is found at its peak near the equator, in mid-summer, at mid-day. On the contrary, the intensity of UVA radiation is almost invariant of place, season and time. Therefore, protection from UVA radiation is required at all places throughout the year.
Electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, TV’s emit Blue Light radiation with considerable intensity (up to 80% of the intensity of a blue sky). Latest scientific data underlines the necessity of everyday use of products offering Blue Light protection, in order to minimize the skin damaging effects of such devices.