#Black light color spectrum skin#

Also known as medium-wave UV, UVB is responsible for stimulating essential vitamin D production in humans and most animals. The wavelengths in ultraviolet B (UVB) rays measure between 280–315 nm. Image Credit: jplenio, Pixabay Ultraviolet B (UVB) Ultraviolet A lamps are otherwise known as black light lamps, and have many applications in different fields, such as forensics, medicine, and biology. UVA from the sun can negatively impact the eyes.

#Black light color spectrum skin#

Although it can’t directly cause skin cancer or eye damage over prolonged periods, exposure to UVA can cause negative reactions in deeper skin layers, which can eventually lead to DNA damage and skin cancer. UVA rays from the sun do not get blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere.Īll kinds of UV rays cause collagen breakdown in the skin, and, therefore, will accelerate aging. Measuring between 315–400 nm, ultraviolet A (UVA) light has the longest wavelengths in the UV range. Depending on the wavelength, ultraviolet is split into three subtypes: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

Ultraviolet waves measure between 10 nm and 400 nm. Artificial sources include mercury-vapor lamps, tanning beds, black lights, and electric arcs produced through the process of welding, plasma cutting, and electric discharge machining.Īrtificial UV lights are used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including sanitization, water treatment, phototherapy, and more. But never say never with LED – a few years back it would have been hard to imagine some of the things LED can do now.Around 10% of the total energy output from the Sun is ultraviolet radiation, but that’s not the only source. Will LED tanning beds be commercialized one day? A quick search on Alibaba will reveal various LED tanning beds, though the cost (and likely the quality) of these leave a bit to be desired. It is not so much that it cannot be done, but rather the challenge is making them efficient, long life, and low cost. With such limited UV output from LED, it is no wonder you cannot find LED tanning lights stateside. Food-service and outdoor applications are just a few instances that can benefit from this.

This has been another motivating factor for places like museums to retrofit to LED.Īnd what about pesky insects and their attraction to certain lights? You may have noticed this less with LED. UV radiation from light sources has been known to attract insects of all kinds, though LED’s emissions are so minimal that they do not hold the same level of command over bugs. CFL and HID lamps have been known to cause damage to shades, carpets, painted surfaces, and more due to UV emissions. Health Canada recommends that people keep a distance of 30 cm or more from any light source.Īn additional concern with UV output is color degradation. While not emitting a significant amount of UV, some people who are very sensitive to UV may be affected by the amount of UV produced by CFLs. CFL lamps, already a worry for their mercury content, are being studied for the UV they put out. Fortunately, most artificial light sources do not emit enough UV for this to be a real concern. We all know that exposure to UV radiation leads to sunburn, and in extreme scenarios can lead to eye problems, skin cancer, weakening of the immune system, and more. This is due to the phosphors within an LED lamp that convert the Ultraviolet light to white light. That said, the amount of UV they actually emit is even less. However studies have shown that standard LEDs do create a small amount of UV. Some in the lighting business have stated that LEDs do not produce UV radiation. A fixture or bulb peaking at around 365nm will cover the entire black light spectrum. Most black light LED sources are in the 385-400nm range, though a little lower is considered the sweet spot for creating the optimal black light effect. LED’s can be designed to produce light of any wavelength. Do LED light bulbs emit UV? How viable are LED black lights? Are there LED tanning bed lights? With the rise in popularity of LED bulbs, many questions are asked as to how the cutting-edge technology will fare in certain applications.īlack light technology is a cinch for LED.