Not All UVA Is Equal: The Hidden Skin Damage from UVA-1 in Gel Curing Lamps

Not All UVA Is Equal: The Hidden Skin Damage from UVA-1 in Gel Curing Lamps

What Is UVA, and Why Should You Care?

 

When we talk about sun damage, most people think of UVB—the type of radiation that causes sunburn. But there's another type of UV radiation quietly wreaking havoc on your skin every day: UVA, especially UVA-1. Unlike UVB, it doesn't burn—but it ages, breaks down, and weakens your skin over time.

 

Breaking Down the UV Spectrum

 

SEALA™ offers anti-aging hand care and UVA protection from nail curing lamps with a sunscreen that's safe for gel nails, prevents oxidative stress, supports skincare for nail techs, and won’t affect adhesion.

 

UV radiation is categorized into three types:

  • UVC (100–280 nm): Blocked by the ozone layer—doesn’t reach us.

  • UVB (280–320 nm): Causes sunburn and contributes to skin cancer.

  • UVA (320–400 nm): Penetrates deeper than UVB and is present all day, year-round.

Now here’s where it gets more specific.


UVA Comes in Two Flavors

 

To understand how UVA affects your skin, it’s divided into:

  • UVA-2: 320–340 nm
    → Causes some surface-level stress and aging

  • UVA-1: 340–400 nm
    → Penetrates deep into the dermis, causing collagen breakdown, oxidative stress, and DNA damage

Most UVA-1 exposure comes from indoor sources like:

  • Nail curing lamps

  • Tanning beds

  • Glass windows and fluorescent/LED lighting

So even if you’re indoors, UVA-1 is still silently aging your skin—especially on your hands during a gel manicure.


Why Is UVA-1 So Harmful?

 

UVA-1 radiation is particularly dangerous because:

  • It doesn’t cause sunburn, so you won’t notice immediate damage

  • It creates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin, leading to inflammation and cellular breakdown

  • It destroys collagen and elastin, accelerating fine lines and loss of firmness

  • It’s harder to block with traditional sunscreens, especially older formulas


UVA vs UVA-1 at a Glance:

 

Term Wavelength (nm) Common Source Skin Impact
UVA 320–400 Sunlight General aging, oxidative damage
UVA-1 340–400 Curing lamps, windows Deep skin damage, collagen loss
UVA-2 320–340 Sunlight Surface-level photoaging


How SEALA Protects You from UVA-1

 

SEALA™ offers anti-aging hand care and UVA protection from nail curing lamps with a sunscreen that's safe for gel nails, prevents oxidative stress, supports skincare for nail techs, and won’t affect adhesion.

 

SEALA™ is one of the only skincare solutions specifically designed to defend against UVA-1—the silent, penetrating light responsible for the aging effects of nail lamps and indoor UV exposure.

  • A cutting-edge UVA-1 filter that absorbs long-wave UVA radiation effectively.

  • Ectoin (1.5%) – A biotech molecule that shields skin cells from oxidative stress, stabilizes DNA, and prevents moisture loss.

  • Adhesion-safe formulation – SEALA won’t interfere with gel manicures and can be used right before curing.


The Bottom Line

 

If you regularly get gel nails, work under bright lights, or sit near a window—you’re being exposed to UVA-1 radiation daily. And while you may not feel it, your skin does.

SEALA is formulated to fight back. With advanced UVA-1 filtration and a hero ingredient like Ectoin, it offers a new kind of protection—made for modern light exposure, and especially for your hands.

 

Protect what’s exposed.

 

SEALA™ offers anti-aging hand care and UVA protection from nail curing lamps with a sunscreen that's safe for gel nails, prevents oxidative stress, supports skincare for nail techs, and won’t affect adhesion.

 

SEALA™: The first of its kind, made for curing lamps.

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