Ever thought why skin doctors keep talking about sunscreen all the time? Is it just a trend or does it really do wonders for your skin? As experts in health facts, we’re here to spill the beans and give you an inside look into sunscreens. Get ready, because this is going to be interesting!
Sunscreen is like a shield for your skin against harmful sunlight. It creates a barrier that stops the sun’s harmful rays from getting into your skin, which helps prevent skin problems like early aging and even skin cancer. Curious? Keep reading to find out more!
Quick Facts and Myths
- Fact: Benjamin Green created the first sunscreen in 1938. He combined cocoa butter, coconut oil, and red veterinary petrolatum to create it. Sun protection factor (SPF) is also used to determine the intensity of sunscreen. This informs us how effective it is at blocking dangerous UVB radiation.
- Myths: Sunscreen doesn’t stop your body from absorbing vitamin D. It’s important to eat well or take supplements to get enough vitamin D every day. You can get natural vitamin D from foods like fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, cod liver oil, egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, and fortified foods such as fortified milk, orange juice, and breakfast cereals.
What is Sunscreen? How it Works?
For centuries, people have known about protecting themselves from the sun. To protect against the sun’s rays, ancient people utilized rice bran, jasmine, and lime. However, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that modern sunscreens took form. Sunscreens began to evolve as a result of Benjamin Green’s innovation, eventually leading to the ones we use today.
UV radiation from the sun can harm your skin without you even realizing it. There are three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Understanding how each type affects your skin is important. UVA rays can make your skin age faster and may lead to cancer. UVB rays cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer. Thankfully, UVC rays aren’t much of a concern because they’re blocked by the Earth’s ozone layer.
Sunscreens work by either absorbing, reflecting, or scattering UV radiation before it reaches your skin. They contain special ingredients that help reduce the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. Chemical and physical sunscreens work differently to protect you from the sun.
Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients like oxybenzone or avobenzone, which absorb UV radiation and convert it into harmless heat that leaves your skin. However, these sunscreens can sometimes cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
Physical sunscreens use minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to create a barrier that blocks UV radiation from reaching your skin. They typically don’t cause irritation, but they can feel thicker and leave a white residue.
Both types of sunscreens effectively protect your skin from UV radiation. However, it’s important to consider which type works best for you before choosing one.
- Chemical Sunscreens: Chemical sunscreen enters the skin, absorbs sunlight, converts it to heat, and then exits the body.
- Good Points: Usually thinner and simpler to put on, and less prone to make your skin seem white.
- Bad Points: It might make your skin feel unpleasant, especially if it is sensitive, and you must apply it 15-20 minutes before going out in the sun for maximum protection.
- Physical Sunscreens: Physical sunscreens, which are often known as mineral sunscreens, stay on top of the skin instead of soaking into it. Here’s the deal:
- Good Points: They are typically suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin and begin protecting as soon as you use them.
- Bad Points: They are thicker and more difficult to apply, particularly on the face, and may cause your skin to appear white.
Excited to know what’s true and what’s not about sunscreen? Here are some things many people get wrong, and we’re here to clear them up!
- Myth 1: Sunscreen is only for the beach.
- Fact 1: The sun’s harmful rays are there every day, even if it’s cloudy, and they can go through windows and clothes.
- Myth 2: Dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen.
- Fact2: Everyone’s skin can get hurt by the sun and might get skin cancer, no matter their skin color. So, it’s good for everyone to use sunscreen.
Can Sunscreen prevent Skin Cancer?
Yes, Sunscreen may help prevent skin cancer by shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It forms a barrier that filters or absorbs harmful rays, lowering the chance of damage to your skin cells that may lead to cancer. However, for the greatest defense against skin cancer, sunscreen should be used appropriately and in conjunction with other sun protection measures, such as finding shade and wearing protective clothes. Make sure you put on sunscreen correctly and also get your skin checked regularly to catch any problems early and stay worry-free.
