Let’s start from the basics shall we? Ever thought what is a sunscreen? or may be
Why do we need a sunscreen?
Well as we know the sun offers us many different things. It offers us warmth through infrared light ,it offers us sight so we can actually see things through visible light. And most importantly, it offers us ultraviolet light, which is something we neither can see nor do we feel it.
It’s Important to understand the distinction between the three when talking about sunscreen. Scientifically ultraviolet light (UV-A ,UV-B)has been proven to be a human carcinogen ,meaning It contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer.
UV-A penetrates deeper within the skin contributing to aging, breakdown of collagen breakdown of tissues and ultimately formations of fine lines and wrinkles along with certain types of skin cancers.
Whereas UV-B hits skin and contributes to burning and skin cancer.
Types of sunscreens: Sunblock vs Sunscreens
So basically there are two main categories
1.Physical / mineral /Sunblock: Physical sunscreens are called Sun block, because it blocks uv radiation from
absorbing into your skin .
2.Chemical / sunscreen :The term Sunscreen is used for chemical Sunscreens as it creates a
screen on top of skin.
3.Hybrid :Nowadays majority of the sunscreen we use are actually hybrid, that means they have both the physical and chemical filters.
Now, let’s go through the difference between a physical and a chemical sunscreen so you guys can make the best decision for yourself .
Physical Sunblocks
So how do they work?
For many years we knew that physical sunscreens works by reflecting uv rays. It has come to our attention in recent years, through recent studies that physical sunscreens actually do a little bit of both .They Scatter 5 percent of Visible light and they absorb rest of Ultraviolet light ,convert majority of them into heat and then dissipate.
So they actually work the same way as chemical sunscreens do, but they also reflect visible light….it means that physical sunscreen actually works as a blocker and at the Same time it works like a chemical Sunscreen .
Physical Sunblocks are near ideal when it comes to protecting us ,but cosmetically they are not as ideal ,because they leave a white cast ,due to either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. And therefore, chemical Sunscreens are created to help protect our skin.
Pros and cons of physical Sunblocks
Benefits/advantages
- It gives instant protection after application, means after applying one can go out in the sun asap, unlike chemical sunscreen, where one needs to wait for 15 to 20 min.till it get absorbed in skin.
- safe to use on babies and adults.
- Great for skin which is prone to Inflammation, eczema psoriasis, rosacea ,acne so if you have any of these Issues stick to physical sunscreen .
Disadvantages
- Need to reapply hourly, because it doesn’t stay effective after some time.
- There biggest downside is that it gives a white cast which is due to zinc or titanium dioxide.
White color reflects as much heat and light away from your skin as possible ,it means that if you want to prevent light or uv rays from absorbing into your skin you need your sunscreen to be white. Now of course because of ever evolving technology , tinting a physical sunscreen or nanoparticles had reduced white cast a lot but still at the end of the day it’s still there.
Examples of physical sunscreen
Skin1004 Madagascar centella air fit sun cream ,Haruharu wonder black rice pure mineral relief daily sunscreen, Neutrogena sheer zinc mineral broad spectrum spf50
Chemical Sunscreens
How does chemical sunscreen work
Chemical Sunscreen creates a shield on your skin to absorb the Uv rays. Most common filters used in chemical sunscreen are Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octocrylene ,Octinoxate and many other hard to pronounce names.
Chemical Sunscreen absorbs and forms a layer into the top or epidermal layer of skin. When the uv Rays hit chemical sunscreens, that particular chemical converts the uv rays into heat and spreads it around. After it Converts it to heat , that particular chemical structure relaxes and then absorbs more heat and then dissipate it and this goes on and on. Now that’s Generally how chemical sunscreens work.
Keep in mind this ,uv rays to heat conversion is important or else uv rays will actually get
into the dermal layer ,where melanocytes are( giving you skin color) and can cause
hyperpigmentation if unprotected and we also want the Uv rays to prevent from getting into
dermal layer where most of collagen is or it’ll start to break down which accelerates the
aging process .
Pros and Cons of chemical sunscreen
Advantages
- Gives maximum protection for or2 to 3 hrs,after that it needs to be reapplied.
- Chemical sunscreen doesn’t leave that nasty white cast so chemical sunscreens can be integrated into a lot of skin care products.
Disadvantages
- It becomes effective after 20 to 30 minutes of application.
- Chemical Sunscreen can cause an allergic reaction, especially if your skin is prone to Inflammation as in acne, Eczema psoriasis .
Examples of chemical sunscreens
Beauty of Joseon relief sun rice+ probiotic ,La roshe posy toleriane double repair face moisturizer
How to Select the Right Sunscreen for Skin?
Always choose a sunblock or sunscreen based on your skin type, concerns, and activities.
For sensitive skin look for Hypoallergenic sunscreens and physical sunblocks are best for them.
For dry skin look for Sunscreens in a moisturizer form .
For oily/acne prone skin look for non-comedogenic sunscreen which is gel based.
For active lifestyle Or sports choose sunscreens that are water resistant .Water resistant formulas gives protection while swimming or working out /sweating.
What to actually look for in a sunscreen when buying one?
Look for these labels when shopping for sunscreen. Your sunscreen should be:
1.Broad spectrum: means it protects against both kinds of uv rays. So with high SPF (sun protection factor), a sunscreen should also be a broad spectrum or there won’t be protection against all UVA rays.
2.SPF (sun protection factors): it tells us how much protection the sunscreen offers from UV-B rays. What it actually means is, the amount of time your skin will need to burn when using that sunscreen. For example,If it takes 10 minutes to burn in sun without any sunscreen then using spf 15 will take 15 x 10=150 minutes to actually reach that same
level and burn, So you might think spf 15 would be a better option but no, because spf 15
only targets about 94 percent of uvb rays ,whereas spf 30 goes up to 97 percent and spf 50 goes up to 98 percent protecting you. So as a rule of thumb anywhere betweend spf 30 to SPF 50 is your safest bet for sunburn protection.
3.PA : It is the Protection Grade of UVA, meaning it measures a product’s ability to block UVA rays.
PA+ blocks 40 to 50 percent uvA rays.
PA++ blocks 60 to 70 percent uvA rays.
PA+++ blocks 90 percent uvA rays.
PA++++ blocks 95 percent uvA rays
Choosing pa+++ or pa++++ would be best.
So your sunblock or sunscreen should be broad spectrum, at least spf50 and pa +++
How to use sun screen?
You need to use two finger lengths of sunscreens for the entire face neck and ears and that ends up working out to be about a1/4 teaspoon of sunscreen and that’s enough to get you that protection that you see on the bottle .If you have some extra sunscreen rub it on the back of the hands because that’s an area that also gets a lot of sun exposure.
And don’t forget to reapply hourly if it’s a physical sunblock, or after every 2 to 3 hour if it’s a chemical sunscreen
Conclusion
Take home message from all the discussion is that any sunscreen is better then no sunscreen because it’s the best anti aging tool. 90percent of aging, the breakdown of the collagen ,spots, wrinkles are caused by radiation that comes from sun so you need to put sunscreen regardless if it’s sunny out there or not.
FAQs
Yes, as uv rays can easily penetrate through windows.
Infants less than six months old do not need sunscreen ,the reason being infants havethinner skin and are more likely to develop Irritations ,so wait till six months till you start applying sunscreens on them.
No it doesn’t.
Two finger length for face.
physical sunblocks are called mineral sunscreen as well as it contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are minerals.
Mineral or physical sunscreen is better because it doesn’t get absorbed in skin.
I am a dentist, baker, and fitness and health enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. I am foodie and explorer, always seeking new adventures and flavors. Currently working on my own skincare brand.
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