Did You Know? UV Rays and Melanin

Temperature does not dictate the amount of UV emitted from the sun. This means that on a sunny winter’s day you can still get sunburned!

UV Radiation is the part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. There are three classifications of UV light: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

The short-wave UVC radiation is absorbed by the ozone layer, but UVA and UVB rays reach the earth's surface and interact with our skin cells. Melanin, the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color, acts as our body's natural defense mechanism against this radiation.

When exposed to UV light, the body increases melanin production to protect the DNA in our cells, which is what we perceive as tanning. However, this "tanning" is actually a sign of skin damage. Protecting the skin with broad-spectrum SPF is essential, regardless of the season or temperature outside.