We all know that staying in the sun for too long without proper protection can be bad for our health and harmful to our skin, but many of us don’t realise the importance of protecting skin against the sun’s harmful UVA rays which are not necessarily stopped by high SPF cream. Here’s some expert advice to help.

The sun produces ultraviolet (UV) radiation and there are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB.

UVA rays are the most common type of rays. They penetrate very deeply into the skin and can cause long-term skin damage. This damage isn't always visible, but it can be permanent. UVA rays can reach us even on overcast days.

UVB rays don't penetrate as deeply into the skin but are very powerful. These are the rays responsible for causing painful sunburns.

 

SPF and UVA star rating

Sun cream often come with SPF and UVA star ratings. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and it relates to how well a sun cream protects against UVB rays. A sun cream’s UVA star rating relates to how well it protects again UVA rays.

When buying sun cream, it’s important to choose products with a SPF of at least 30 and a 5-star UVA rating. These products will give you and your family the best protection against the sun’s harmful rays.