UVA

By Dr. Doaa Al Rawad, Dermatologist
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

What UVA is

Ultraviolet radiation is part of the natural energy produced by the sun. Two types reach the skin and both are linked to skin cancer risk: ultraviolet A, or UVA, which has a longer wavelength, and ultraviolet B, or UVB, which has a shorter one. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that UVA makes up the large majority of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches the earth.

UVB is the main cause of sunburn. UVA is quieter. You do not feel it as heat and it rarely leaves an obvious burn, but the American Academy of Dermatology describes it as the part of sunlight that can prematurely age the skin, causing wrinkles and age spots.

Why UVA matters in the UAE

Window glass blocks UVB, but UVA can pass through it. That changes how a normal UAE day adds up: the drive to school or work, a desk beside a bright window, a long wait in a glass-fronted lobby. None of these feels like time in the sun, yet each can add to the light reaching the face and hands.

Cars are a good example. A study in JAMA Ophthalmology measured UVA protection in vehicle glass and found windscreens more consistently protective than side windows. The cars were tested in the United States, so the result is a reason to ask questions about your own car rather than a measurement of it. A darker tint does not prove stronger UVA blocking.

For pigment-prone skin, UVA is one of the triggers that can make melasma and post-inflammatory marks look darker. Visible light can also play a part, which is why tinted sunscreens are often suggested for melasma.

Reading a label for UVA

The word broad spectrum on a sunscreen means it protects against both UVA and UVB. The SPF number mainly describes UVB protection, so a high SPF on its own does not tell you how well a product covers UVA. Some products also carry a separate UVA grade, such as the PA plus-sign system.

Everyday protection

Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, and reapply about every two hours while outdoors and after sweating, swimming or towelling. Add shade, clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses. In the car, do not hang loose fabric across windows while driving, and ask for measured UVA figures before relying on a film.