sunscreens use chemical

ns.

absorbers

to protect the skin from UV radiation and sunbur

A chemical reaction takes place between the sunscreen ingredients and the UV ray
s to screen your body from most of the effects of the sun. That s why the instructio
ns on the sunscreen bottles say to put it on 20 minutes before being exposed to
the sun.
The principal ingredients in sunscreens are usually aromatic molecules conjugate
d with carbonyl groups. This general structure allows the molecule to absorb hig
h-energy ultraviolet rays and release the energy as lower-energy rays, thereby p
reventing the skin-damaging ultraviolet rays from reaching the skin. So, upon ex
posure to UV light, most of the ingredients (with the notable exception of avobe
nzone) do not undergo significant chemical change, allowing these ingredients to
retain the UV-absorbing potency without significant photodegradation. A chemica
l stabilizer is included in some sunscreens containing avobenzone to slow its br
eakdown; examples include formulations containing Helioplex and AvoTriplex. The
stability of avobenzone can also be improved by bemotrizinol, octocrylene and va
rious other photostabilisers.
The sun is said to cause cancer because it forms free radicals in the skin. Suns
creens and sunblocks may block that radiation, but in the process they also form
free radicals, because all the energy from the sun has to go somewhere. The tri
ck is to block more free radicals than the sun cream creates. Many sunscreens in
clude natural antioxidants like Vitamin E or green tea to combat the formation o
f free radicals in the skin.
avobenzone: Widespread; best UVA protection of chemical filters(not very good wi
th UVB) Very limited skin penetration No evidence of hormone disruption
low
rates of skin irritation
There are three subtypes of UV light: UVA (320-400 nm wavelength), UVB (280-320
nm), UVC (100-280 nm). UVA is sometimes subdivided into UVA-1 (350-400 nm) and U
VA-2 (320-350 nm).
UVC is blocked by the ozone layer.
UVB causes sunburn, but has a relatively modest effect on skin wrinkles because
most of it is absorbed in the epidermis (the outer skin layer) and does not reac
h the dermis where wrinkles form.
UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and is the major contributor to skin damage
and wrinkles. (cancer causing)
SPF is to say that the sunscreen absorbs UV rays at a percentage based on the SP
F. For example, that SPF 15 sunscreen would allow your skin to absorb 1/15 th of
the UV rays that it would if you weren t wearing any protection. That s about 6.7%
of the rays coming through your sunscreen.
Increasing the concentration of the a sun-blocking agent, typically increases th
e degree of protection but may also increase the risk of skin irritation, toxici
ty, unsightliness, formulation/application difficulty and so forth.