NIC Esthetician Written ExamScientific ConceptsMedium
A client has recently undergone a chemical peel and is advised to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. The esthetician explains that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage skin cells and contribute to premature aging and skin cancer. Which specific type of UV radiation is primarily responsible for generating free radicals and causing direct DNA damage, leading to sunburn and increasing the risk of skin cancer?
- AUVC
- BUVB
- CInfrared
- DUVA
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. UVB
UVB radiation is primarily responsible for sunburn, direct DNA damage in skin cells, and is a major contributor to the development of skin cancer. It is also a key factor in generating free radicals.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. UVC is largely absorbed by the ozone layer and does not typically reach the Earth's surface.
- C. Infrared radiation is associated with heat, not direct DNA damage or sunburn from UV spectrum.
- D. UVA primarily causes premature aging and contributes to skin cancer by generating free radicals and indirectly damaging DNA.
UVB Radiation Effects
UVB radiation is a type of ultraviolet light that primarily causes sunburn, direct DNA damage in epidermal cells, and is a significant contributor to the risk of skin cancer.
- Responsible for photocarcinogenesis (skin cancer formation).
- Intensity varies by season, time of day, and altitude.
- Primarily absorbed by the epidermis.
Memory trick: UVB = Burn and Cancer.