It's been a while, angel ♡
Today we're stepping into the lab to uncover the science behind something we encounter everyday... sunscreen.
Sunscreen is one of the most effective tools that we can use against dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. It's also widely recommended but commonly misunderstood. This post will help you better understand what it is, it's used for, and which may be most effective on your skin.
First off, SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor which measures how much protection is used against the sun's UV rays. Although the sun's rays provide Earth with warmth and energy that sustains life, UV radiation can enter out skin and damage cells. There are two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, this is based on the wavelength of the radiation. UVA rays, which have a longer wavelength, are responsible foraging, fine lines, dark spots, and the other effects of the skin (along with skin cancer). UVB is usually responsible for sunburns and skin cancers.
There are two main categories of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens are more accessible, absorb UV rays into the skin and deactivate them. This type of sunscreen tends to allow more protection from UVA and UVB rays rather than mineral sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens deflect UV rays. These are less likely to cause irritation but some- those that contain titanium oxide especially- tend to block UVB radiation.
If you live in the U.S like me, the U.S. FDA classifies sunscreen as an over-the-counter product which makes ingredients like Tinosorb, Mexoryl, and Uvinul receive approval from the FDA slow and expensive. As of right now, these ingredients aren't FDA approved which makes the U.S. behind countries like those in the European Union, where sunscreens can be more quickly approved for sale as a cosmetic. Despite these obstacles, the U.S. still has sunscreen with good protection. Scientific studies discovered that daily use of regular sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer and can slow down aging. There was a controlled trial in Australia that recently showed sunscreen used daily cause reduced occurrence of melanoma- serious type of skin cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes, which make skin color- by 50% while a different study from Norwegia found that SPF 15 sunscreen diminishes melanoma risk by 30%. Many other studies indicate that regular sunscreen use lower the risk of other skin cancers like squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell, and keratinocyte carcinomas.
Another important point of sunscreen is to not only wear it but to also apply correctly. This is something that many people don't know about! A nice, thick layer of sunscreen is great and to help you find out which is better, SPF 15 covers about 93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 block 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. Usually sunscreens with higher SPF are greasier and cause more irritation but you don't have to use the sunscreen with the highest SPF level, using sunscreen is better than not using any at all.
Spray on sunscreen is a thing but it causes uneven coverage so sunscreen lotions or cream provide the best results.
I hope this post helps you find out which kind of sunscreen is best for your skin and clear up any questions about sunscreen you may have had.
That's all, divas!
Stay curious and be yourself!
xoxo,
Mariana ♡
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