What UV Rays Are Really Doing to Your Skin

Sometimes you may get a sunburn at the beach, but once in a blue moon can't hurt, right? In a shocking video, artist Thomas Leveritt reveals what UV rays do to your skin and it's enough to make you want to bath in SPF. If you're anything like me, you'll take one look at your skin and think, "Phew. At least it's not too late for me!" when you notice some redness after a day spent in the sun. However, while your skin may look fine from the outside (no wrinkles, sun spots, etc.), there may be more damage than what meets the eye.

In the film, Leveritt has men and women of all ages step under an ultraviolet lens. Pure UV light, which is the harmful ray present in sunlight, acts as a future timeteller and can display damage to your skin before it appears in natural light. Under the UV lens, people were able to see freckles, wrinkles, and sun spots that they wouldn't normally see when they look in the mirror. Some people had more damage than others, but the overall consensus was astonishment at how radically different their skin managed to look.

We already know that sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher!) is the best defense against sun damage, so it's no surprise that the results are very different when Leveritt has the people apply sunscreen and stand under the UV light. Curious? Take a look below.

A few women start by showing us that secret freckles are a thing. This is one woman without the UV light:

And this is what she looks like under a UV light.

Holy crap, right?

Here's another woman giving it a go...

Can you imagine if we all walked around with this many freckles?

But freckles aren't the only signs of sun damage! Another woman was shocked to find wrinkles she never knew she had.

That awkward moment when you're in your mid-twenties and you may have secret wrinkles.

Leveritt reminds us that we are all actually born with perfect skin.

Even under the UV light, this adorable baby still has damage-free skin. It's scary how much that will change later.

Naturally, 10 year olds still have less skin damage than us.

So innocent. So unharmed.

And there is an example of what it looks like when you do take care of your skin as an adult.

No freckles or wrinkles!

The main takeaway from the video: just wear sunscreen.

Under the ultraviolet light, you can see that it acts as a literal shield against the rays. As the woman is applying the sunscreen, it turns black under the UV lens because no light can pass through it.

Just make sure you apply it evenly...

Check out the full video below.

Images: Youtube/Thomas Leveritt (9)