What You Need to Know About HEV Light and IR-A Rays

By now, everyone has heard of UVB and UVA rays; UVB rays cause sunburns- nature’s early warning system to get out of the sun and UVA rays cause skin cancer.  HEV light is high-energy visible light.  The sun emits most of the HEV light that we are exposed to but it can also be found in tech devices such as cell phones, laptops, and computers as well as fluorescent light bulbs.  IR-A rays are infrared, invisible to the eye and especially harmful in high dose exposures.

What are the effects?

A study published in the National Institute of Health in 2015 has concluded that the accumulative effects of exposure to HEV light and IR-A rays can result in premature aging of the skin and an increase in the production of free radicals formed in the skin.

HEV penetrates deeper into the layers of the skin than UVA and UVB rays. Dr. Zein Obagi, the founder of ZO Skin Health, formerly known as Obagi has formulated his line of sun protection to include Triple-Spectrum Protection. Formulated with fractionated melanin, his sunscreens provided advanced protection from harmful HEV light. Dr. Obagi has also formulated his sunscreens with ZOX12™ to protect against harmful IR-A rays.

How Do I Fit Sunscreen into My Daily Skin Care Routine?

Believe it or not, one of the best things you can do to prevent visible signs of aging on your face is wearing sunscreen every day. Luckily, ZO Skin Health has developed several products that make it easier to incorporate it into your morning skincare routine. Some ZO products that fit into just about any routine are:

• ZO® Skin Health Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 – This product is perfect for the girl-on-the-go that needs a two in one product.
• ZO® SKIN HEALTH Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 – Another SPF that is perfect for applying before makeup application is the Smart Tone SPF. This formulation helps to reduce redness and even out the tone of your skin, while also providing a flawless matte finish to the skin.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in learning more about proper sun care, contact our office today to schedule a skin care consultation. One of our practitioners will be happy to assist you in learning more about the different types of sun protection products available and how to use them in your everyday routine.