How do ultra-violet rays affect the skin of a person

Question: How do ultra-violet rays affect the skin of a person
- Keywords:
  UV_rays
Asked by Dr. Levis Mweri to Sally, Mmboyi, Mike, Michael, Jacinta, Gliday, Elkana, Edna, Arnold on 17 Jul 2025.
- 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!

Question: How do ultra-violet rays affect the skin of a person