UVA1, UVA2, & UVB Protection

Who doesn’t love basking in sunshine? We sure do. But those lovely rays do more than warm your body and soul. Sunshine is partly made up of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and whether you’re basking, barbecuing, or simply sitting by a window, those rays are penetrating your skin and causing damage. Here’s what you need to know about those rays and how STATE OF SUN can help protect you.

 

FAST FACTS ABOUT UV Rays

  • UVA (aging) Rays- make up about 95% of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
  • UVA Rays- are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours and throughout all the seasons of the year.
  • UVA Rays- can penetrate clouds and even glass.
  • UVA Rays- play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling. They also contribute to the development of skin cancer.
  • UVB (burning) Rays- are the primary cause of skin reddening and sunburn and it also plays a key role in skin cancer, as well as a contributory role in tanning and aging.
  • UVB Rays- intensity varies by time of day, season, and location. It’s most intense in the US from 10 AM to 4 PM, April through October. But they can still burn and damage your skin no matter what time or day it is – particularly at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces like snow or water, which reflect up to 80% of the rays so they hit your skin twice.

Clearly, it’s important to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays which is why you need to use “broad spectrum” sunscreen. But, all sunscreens actives (the ingredient that actively filters UV rays) aren’t created equal.

Here are the sunscreen actives currently approved by the FDA and the rays they filter.

  • PABA (UVB)
  • Avobenzone (UVA1)
  • Cinoxate (UVB)
  • Dioxybenzone (UVB, UVA2)
  • Ecamesule (UVA2)
  • Ensulizole (UVB)
  • Homosalate (UVB)
  • Meradimate (UVA2)
  • Octocrylene (UVB)
  • Octinoxate (UVB)
  • Octisalate (UVB)
  • Oxybenzone (UVB, UVA2)
  • Padimate O (UVB)
  • Sulisobenzone (UVB, UVA2)
  • Trolamine Salicylate (UVB)
  • Titanium Dioxide (UVB, UVA2)
  • Zinc Oxide (UVB, UVA2, UVA1)

there’s only one ingredient that actively filters out all three ranges of UV rays: zinc oxide. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in STATE OF SUN sunscreens.