What is ultraviolet?

Ultraviolet is like invisible sunlight that can make your skin feel warm or even a little tingly.

Imagine you're playing outside on a sunny day. You know about visible light, the colors you see, like blue, green, and red. But there's also light you can't see, and ultraviolet is one of those kinds. It's like the "extra sunny" part of sunlight that goes beyond what your eyes can pick up.

Think of sunlight as a band of different colors, like a rainbow, but even more than that. Ultraviolet light is just beyond the purple end of the rainbow. You can't see it, but you can feel it. When you're out in the sun too long, especially on a hot day, your skin might get warm or even start to turn pink, that’s ultraviolet light working its way through your skin.

Sometimes, like when you’re near water or snow, ultraviolet light gets stronger. That's why you might feel extra warm at the beach, even if it doesn't look too hot!