What it is and what it is for?
Sunscreen is a lotion, spray or cream that helps protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet radiation, which reduces sunburn and other skin damage, closely linked to a lower risk of skin cancer.
The best sunscreens protect both UVB (ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength between 290 and 320 nanometers), which can cause sunburn, and UVA (between 320 and 400 nanometers), which is responsible for tanning, in addition to being the main cause of long-term skin damage, such as premature skin aging.
What are the most used ingredients and their function?
Many sunscreens contain either organic compounds that absorb ultraviolet light (like oxybenzone) or an opaque material that reflects light (like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), or a combination of both. Typically, absorptive materials are referred to as chemical blockers, whereas opaque materials are referred to as mineral or physical blockers.
Which types exist and what are their differences?
There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical.
The physical, often called sunscreen, contains more titanium dioxide, which creates a barrier for the passage of UV rays, that is, it works as a reflector - these blockers are those that leave a white layer on the skin, due to excess TiO2 (titanium dioxide).
Chemical protectors have substances that interact with UV radiation, absorbing it and undergoing changes in its structures; so, UV radiation is absorbed by this thin layer of substances and does not reach melanocytes - such protectors do not leave that layer as white as blockers.
What is the most used packaging format and what are the most frequent sizes?
Usually sunscreens are available in tubes, tubes, spray and stick and the sizes vary a lot between 10ml and 500ml.
What to take into account when choosing a sunscreen?
The importance of considering the skin type when choosing the protector is high: for people with acne, the ideal is specific formulations, free of oil. People with sensitive or mature skin also find formulations suitable for their skin type.
There is also a difference between the colored sunscreen and the sunscreen base. The first option prioritizes the health of the skin, protecting it from the sun's rays and visible light with coverage of imperfections, varying from natural to high, just choose the one that best suits your skin and your needs.
What are the recommendations for use and tips?
The ideal amount to use sunscreen is: one teaspoon for the face, one teaspoon for the front, one teaspoon for the back, one teaspoon for each arm and two teaspoons for each leg.
It is also important to reapply the sunscreen every two hours. When you sweat a lot, for example in sports, or when you are submersed to water.
What are the pros and cons of using sunscreen?
Recently, there has been an increase in attention to the possibility of adverse health effects associated with the synthetic compounds present in many sunscreens. The greatest risks of melanoma occurred in regions where the use of sunscreen was more prevalent.
Some people may have small to moderate allergic reactions to certain sunscreen ingredients, particularly the chemical benzophenone, which is also known as phenyl ketone, diphenyl ketone or bezoylbenzene.
However, the benefits are diverse and must be taken into account: prevention of premature skin aging, skin cancer, blemishes and sunburn.
