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The invisible ultraviolet sunrays are especially dangerous. They are UVA, UVB and UVC.

UVA: the tanning rays

• are not blocked out by clouds
• are dangerous thoughout the day
• penetrate deep into the skin and
• cause serious damage to the deeper skin layers even before your skin turns red.

Up to 85 percent of UVA rays penetrate thick glass and 77 percent will penetrate a metre of water and wet cotton clothing. The damage to the elastic connective tissue in the deeper layers of the skin makes the skin tough and wrinkled and increases the risk of cancer.

UVA rays also cause cataracts and blindness. Sunbeds and tanning lamps emit UV-rays and are unsafe, even though advertisements may claim the contrary. A welding torch also emits dangerous UVA rays.

Not all sunscreens protect you against damage caused by UVA rays.

UVB rays: causes redness

• UVB rays causes redness,
• tanning of the skin and
• they are partially absorbed by the ozone layer.

Up to 35 percent of UVB rays penetrate thick glass, and 50 percent will penetrate a metre of water and wet cotton clothing. UVB causes the top layers of your skin to release chemicals that make your blood vessels expand and leak fluid, causing pain, inflammation and redness – it’s known as sunburn. This sort of damage can happen within as little as 15 minutes and can continue to develop for up to 72 hours after you’ve been exposed to the sun.

The skin cells damaged by sunburn will die and peel away in flakes or sheets. Peeling is a little unsightly, but it’s actually your body's way of disposing of damaged cells.

• UVC rays have a shorter wavelength than UVA or UVB and are the most dangerous rays.
• Luckily, most of these rays are still absorbed by the ozone layer. If not, chances are good that everybody will develop skin or even other types of cancer.

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