THE HYPE AROUND SUNSCREEN

In recent years, Social Media has amplified the message about the importance around applying sunscreen for skin protection. The benefits of wearing sunscreen is all over the Internet with Dermatologist and influencers emphasizing on the need to apply sunscreen to avoid and prevent several skin problems. The hype around sunscreen stems from this growing awareness of its crucial role in having healthy skin, protecting from sun damage and preventing skin diseases. Since the information has become more accessible, more and more teens and adults have added sunscreen in to their daily skin care routine

• Several researches and Dermatologist support this growing hype of applying sunscreen. According to the “ National Library of Medicine”, researches have been conducted that have prove that commercial sunscreens protect against the skin-damaging effects of ultravioletradiation through either chemical or physical ingredients
• According to an article in “Harvard Health Publishing”, regular application of sunscreen protects against the most common skin cancers like squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. The degree of protection that sunscreen provides is directly related to the degree which ultraviolet radiation is associated with the formulation of the skin cancer.

Categories of Sunscreen Ingredients:

Physical blockers: 

Physical blockers contain minerals such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide grounded into fine particles. These minerals sit on the surface of the skin and reflect the UV rays away from our skin. Sunscreen products that have physical blockers are usually known as Sunblock or mineral sunscreen.

Chemical absorbers:

Chemical sunscreen ingredients form a thin protective film that absorbs UV radiation before it penetrates the skin. Sunscreen products that contain chemical absorbers are also known as organic sunscreens.

Both Physical blockers and Chemical absorbers have their advantages and disadvantages. Physical blocker sunscreens do not cause any allergic reactions, irritation or stinging but can be quite greasy and leave a white cast. Chemical absorber sunscreens are usually clear and easy to apply but these are more likely to cause allergic reactions. Most sunscreens now use a combination of both physical blockers and chemical absorbers to maximize benefits of their products, provide more protection and reduce any side effects.

Understand and research the ingredients before making a choice in which sunscreen ingredients will suit your skin the best. Every skin type is different. Some skin types are more sensitive than others so knowing the ingredients of the sunscreen and patch testing a product before is extremely important.

Most dermatologists suggest using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 because it blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. If you live in a place with a hotter and sunnier climate SPF 50 is a better option. If you are in the sun for a long period of time, it is recommended that you reapply your sunscreen after a few hours to maximize protection. Regular application of sunscreen not just provides protection but also makes your skin look healthier and help maintain a youthful appearance.