Realizing The Unique Science Behind Sunscreen
The following
content highlights the science behind sunscreen.
Applying sunscreen
would be one of the best decisions you made for your skin lately. Sunscreen
protects the skin by leveraging active ingredients that usually absorb,
reflect, or scatter harmful UV radiation. These products fall into two major
categories: chemical filters and physical blockers. Chemical sunscreens come
with organic (carbon-based) compounds that take in UV radiation and turn it
into harmless heat. Some of the common chemical filters also cover avobenzone,
oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene.
When looking for
sunscreen, it's vital to select one labeled as "broad-spectrum." A
broad-spectrum sunscreen is known for its protection against both UVA and UVB
rays, bringing in comprehensive protection. This is vital because while UVB
rays are usually responsible for sunburn, UVA rays penetrate deeper and can
result significantly in skin aging and cancer risk.
The Sun Protection
Factor (SPF) rating present in a sunscreen indicates the level of protection it
offers against UVB rays. For instance, the SPF 30 rating shows that it would
take 30 times longer for UVB rays to have an impact on the skin than without sunscreen.
SPF 15 effectively blocks around 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks about 97%, and
SPF 50 blocks about 98%. While higher SPF numbers offer a tad bit more
protection, no sunscreen in the market can block 100% of UVB rays. It’s also
important to apply sunscreen properly on your skin and make sure to reapply it
every two hours, or more frequently if you are actively swimming or sweating.
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