Most people think sunlight only causes tanning, but the truth is sunlight contains different types of UV rays. The two main ones are UVA and UVB, and both can damage your skin in different ways.
UVB Rays
UVB rays are responsible for:
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sunburn
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redness
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immediate tanning
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skin irritation after sun exposure
SPF rating mainly tells you how well the sunscreen protects against UVB.
UVA Rays
UVA rays go deeper into the skin and cause:
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premature ageing (wrinkles, loss of elasticity)
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pigmentation and dark spots
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dullness and uneven skin tone
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long-term damage that shows up later
PA rating (PA+, PA++, PA+++, PA++++) tells you how strong UVA protection is.
Why “Broad Spectrum” Sunscreen Matters
A good sunscreen should protect against both UVA and UVB. That is why you should look for:
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SPF 50 (UVB protection)
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PA+++ or PA++++ (UVA protection)
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“Broad Spectrum” on the label
One Important Fact
UVA rays can still affect you indoors through windows (car windows, office windows). So sunscreen is useful even if you are not at the beach.
