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Asked by Dr. Levis Mweri to Sally, Mmboyi, Mike, Michael, Jacinta, Gliday, Elkana, Edna, Arnold on 17 Jul 2025.
Question: How do ultra-violet rays affect the skin of a person
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Jacinta Nzilani answered on 17 Jul 2025:
Hey ,
🌞 How UV Affects the Skin,
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun come in three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
Only UVA and UVB reach your skin, and they cause damage in different ways:
🔬 1. DNA Damage
UVB rays damage the DNA in skin cells directly.This can lead to sunburn and, over time, increase the risk of skin cancer (like melanoma).
🧪 2. Aging the Skin (Photoaging)
UVA rays go deeper into the skin and break down collagen and elastin.This causes wrinkles, sagging, and dark spots.
🛡️ 3. Body’s Defense
The skin produces melanin (a pigment) to absorb UV and protect cells that’s why skin tans.Too much UV overwhelms this defense and causes sunburn or cell damage.
🧴 Fun fact: Sunscreen acts like a shield by absorbing or reflecting UV rays to protect your skin!
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Michael Kimwele answered on 21 Jul 2025:
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage the skin by penetrating its layers and causing cellular changes; prolonged exposure can lead to sunburn, premature aging (such as wrinkles and dark spots), and an increased risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. UV rays weaken the skin’s natural defenses by breaking down collagen and affecting DNA in skin cells, which may lead to mutations if the damage is not properly repaired.
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