How Does Sunscreen Work?

As summer approaches, it is important to understand how to protect yourself from UV rays, one of the most effective ways being through the use of sunscreen.

Sunscreen is an important part of having a healthy summer. It protects skin against sunburn, wrinkling, and skin cancer by either blocking or absorbing UV rays.

Sunscreen is a product that helps prevent the sun’s UV rays from reaching skin. UV rays are categorized into UVA and UVB rays, both of which cause skin damage.

UVA rays deeply penetrate the skin and are responsible for aging and wrinkling, while UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn.

Sunscreens contain ingredients that either absorb or reflect UV radiation. There are two types of ingredients in sunscreen: chemical filters and physical filters. Chemical filters absorb UV rays and convert it into harmless heat, while physical filters reflect UV rays away from the skin.

There are some important factors when picking sunscreen that can have a major impact on its quality, namely broad-spectrum protection, its SPF rating, and water resistance.

Broad-spectrum protection protects against both UVA and UVB rays, not just one or the other. Broad-spectrum protection is the best option as it covers both risks.

The SPF rating measures the level of protection that a sunscreen provides against UVB rays. The higher the SPF, the more protection it provides. For everyday use, it is recommended that a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is used.

Some sunscreens are labeled as being water-resistant, which means they provide protection when swimming or sweating. Water-resistant sunscreen should still be applied regularly.

In addition to using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and making use of shade can reduce the risk of UV damage during the summer.