UVB light simply means ultraviolet (UV) light that has a wavelength between 280 – 315 nanometer, nm. Ultraviolet light falls on the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and x-rays and is generally divided into three sub-bands characterized by wavelengths:
·
UVA (315 to 400 nm) near UV
·
UVB (280 to 315 nm) middle UV
· UVC (180 to 280 nm) far UV
Does UVB Light Reach The Earth’s Surface?
UVA wavelengths are the longest and account for
approximately 95% of UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface. The ozone
layer absorbs most UVB light from the sun, and medium UVB wavelengths cannot
penetrate beyond the superficial layer of skin. UVB wavelengths contribute to
delayed tanning, sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancer. The ozone layer absorbs
all UVC short-wave radiation.
UVB light is very biologically active in that it is what helps the body produce vitamin D3. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus and is vital to bone health. The difference is that Vit D3 is the natural form of vitamin D that is produced by the body from sunlight.
Why Vitamin D Is so Important
A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which
contributes to bone fractures, broken bones, and osteoporosis. A severe
deficiency of vitamin D can also lead to other diseases, such as rickets in
children, which is a rare disease that causes the bones to become so soft they
bend.
Vitamin D is also important for the immune system, and some studies suggest that vitamin D can help protect people against infections, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, respiratory disease, and other illnesses.
Treating Vitamin D Deficiency with UVB Bulb
UVB
bulbs have been shown to increase vitamin D3 production and, according to some studies, can be more efficient than exposure to sunlight. Skin
that is exposed to UVB light in the range of 297 nm will transform cholesterol
into vitamin D3, and only a small amount in the range of 50-100 mili joules is
needed to generate vitamin D3. Exposure to strong sunshine for about 15 minutes
daily is considered adequate, although people living in the northern hemisphere
during the winter when sunlight is scarce could become vitamin D deficient.
UVB bulbs that produce precisely 297 nm
are required to realize optimal vitamin D3 production, converting
7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) to pre-vitamin D3, which will undergo a subsequent
rearrangement to vitamin D3. UVB light to produce vitamin D3 is also important
for animals and many reptiles that synthesize vitamin D3 when their skin is
exposed to UVB light. A lack of exposure to UVB light can lead to metabolic
bone disease in reptiles and amphibians because most reptile species are not
able to utilize dietary vitamin D3.
UVB bulbs should only be used to treat
human vitamin D deficiency or other health conditions under the care of a
physician. Exposure to lamps at this nanometer could damage the skin and eyes,
and a medical professional should ensure proper lamp type and exposure is being
used for UVB light therapy treatment of any disease.
UVB Light Therapy
UVB lamps are reported to have been used to treat a variety of
health conditions dating back to the early 1900s. Many medical phototherapy lamps utilize UVB lamps which
are proven to effectively treat a host of conditions such as:
·
Mood disorders
·
Sleep disorders
·
Skin conditions
§ UV Acne
UVB bulbs improve skin conditions when administered
properly under a doctor’s care, oftentimes by shutting down overactive cells in
the skin. UVB and narrowband UVB bulbs are used to treat psoriasis to decrease
symptoms and promote healing. UVB and narrowband UVB light is also used to
treat eczema, and primarily UVB narrowband bulbs are shown effective at
treating vitiligo by helping to repigment cells. LightSources offers UVB light
therapy lamps and other medical phototherapy lamps designed to meet specific
treatment needs.
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