Sunscreen

Sunscreen
Sunscreen drawing on skin shown on a normal photo and on a UV-photo
Other namesSun screen, sunblock, sunburn cream, sun cream, block out[1]

Sunscreen, also known as sunblock,[a] sun lotion or sun cream, is a photoprotective topical product for the skin that helps protect against sunburn and prevent skin cancer. Sunscreens come as lotions, sprays, gels, foams (such as an expanded foam lotion or whipped lotion[4]), sticks, powders and other topical products. Sunscreens are common supplements to clothing, particularly sunglasses, sunhats and special sun protective clothing, and other forms of photoprotection (such as umbrellas).

Sunscreen products may be classified according to the type of active ingredient(s) present in the formulation (inorganic compounds or organic molecules) as:

  • Mineral sunscreens (also referred to as physical), which use only inorganic compounds (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) as active ingredients. These ingredients primarily work by absorbing UV rays but also through reflection and refraction.[5][6]
  • Chemical sunscreens, which use organic molecules as active ingredients. Chemical sunscreen ingredients work by absorbing the UV rays.[7] Additionally, particulate organic UV filters, such as bisoctrizole, can also reflect and scatter incident UV light.
  • Hybrid sunscreens, which contain a combination of organic and inorganic UV filters.

Medical organizations such as the American Cancer Society recommend the use of sunscreen because it aids in the prevention of squamous cell carcinomas.[8] The routine use of sunscreens may also reduce the risk of melanoma.[9] To effectively protect against all the potential damages of UV light, the use of broad-spectrum sunscreens (covering both UVA and UVB radiation) has been recommended.[3]

  1. ^ "Preventing melanoma". Cancer Research UK. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  2. ^ Moddaresi, Mojgan (October 20, 2017). "EU SPF Regulations: Labelling and claims". Prospector Knowledge Center.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference fda2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "WHIPPED FORMULATIONS WITH DESIRED SENSORY IMPACT". Canada Patent Data Base. July 8, 2022. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Cole, Curtis; Shyr, Thomas; Ou-Yang, Hao (October 2, 2015). "Metal oxide sunscreens protect skin by absorption, not by reflection or scattering". Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 32 (1): 5–10. doi:10.1111/phpp.12214. ISSN 0905-4383. PMID 26431814. S2CID 20695063.
  6. ^ Schneider, Samantha L.; Lim, Henry W. (November 16, 2018). "A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide". Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 35 (6): 442–446. doi:10.1111/phpp.12439. ISSN 0905-4383. PMID 30444533. S2CID 53562460.
  7. ^ Ko SA (September 2016). ""Physical" vs. "chemical" sunscreens and other sunscreen myths". KindofStephen. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Skin Cancer - Skin Cancer Facts - Common Skin Cancer Types". www.cancer.org. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008.
  9. ^ Sunscreens and Photoprotection at eMedicine


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