Which types of Sunscreens are available?

As we have seen in our earliest articles, we all know how important it is to apply sunscreen all year round. But with a multitude of options available out there, how do you choose the right sunscreen for yourself? Chances are that the overwhelming choices of sunscreens have left you confused and you’re scrambling to find the best sunscreen for your skin type. Not just that, there’s so much information on the different types of sunscreens, it must’ve left you wondering which one is the best. Well, break it down for you and explain in simple words the main types of sunscreens available in the market. Once you know all about the sunscreen types, you can make an informed decision about which one you should splurge on!?

1. What are the different kinds of sunscreen??

• Physical Sunscreens?
• Chemical Sunscreens?
• Hybrid Sunscreens?

Physical Sunscreens - also called Mineral sunscreens, inorganic sunscreens, etc. It is a mineral-based method of sun protection that shields your skin from UV radiation. Your skin is covered with this kind of sunscreen. Active components like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are commonly used in the manufacturing of mineral sunscreens.?

“Works similarly to a shield, sitting on the surface of the skin and deflecting the sun rays”?

Zinc oxide sunscreen is often recommended as the safest and most environmentally friendly.?

• Zinc oxide: is created from zinc and crushed into fine particles. In addition to being a sunscreen, it protects the skin. By reflecting and diffusing UV rays, zinc oxide functions as a sunscreen. Sunscreens manufactured using zinc oxide decrease or prevent sunburn and premature skin aging. The FDA has also allowed the use of zinc oxide in sunscreen doses of up to 25%.?
• As per the researcher’s study, the UVA protection factor was reduced by between 84.3% and 91.8% in the sunscreen containing zinc oxide particles, while the original sunscreen without zinc oxide only showed a 15.8% loss in UVA protection factor, after UV exposure for two hours.?
• Titanium dioxide: is created from titanium and has a smaller particle size of 10 to 100 nanometers. Titanium dioxide becomes transparent to visible light while serving as an efficient UV light absorber. Because the particle size is so small, nano-titanium dioxide does not reflect visible light. Still, it does absorb UV light, enabling a transparent barrier that protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Titanium dioxide is a natural mineral used in many cosmetic products. It is a white pigment that stays stable even after exposure to UV radiation.??
• Research indicates that titanium dioxide nanoparticles retain the capacity to protect from UVB and short UVA (UVA-2) light.?
• So if you’re unsure which sunscreen is best for your sensitive skin, go with Sunscreen with mineral or Physical sunscreen actives.?

Chemical Sunscreens – Sunscreen products manufactured using chemical sunscreen actives work by absorbing into the skin and converting the sun rays into heat that’s then released from the body.?

“Work similarly to a sponge by absorbing the sun rays”?

• Photostable screens: This kind of filter returns to the ground state after dissipating its absorbed energy as heat energy into the surrounding environment. After that, it can once again fully absorb UV light.?
• Photo unstable screens: After absorbing UV light, the filter changes chemically or degrades. It can no longer take in UV energy.?
• Photoreactive screens: When the filter is stimulated, it interacts with molecules in the immediate area, such as skin proteins and lipids, oxygen, and other sunscreen chemicals. Reactive species are created as a result, and these species may have undesirable biological impacts.?

Chemical sunscreen has more than one ingredient and they have different properties. The available active ingredients in sunscreen are called chemical filters. Chemical filters can be categorized as UVA and UVB filters. Sunscreen Actives which protect against ultraviolet A (UVA) sun rays called UVA actives, and another ingredient protects from ultraviolet B (UVB) sun rays also called UVB actives.??

Some Examples of chemical filters popularly being used in the manufacturing of sunscreen products are listed below:?

1. UVB filters?

• PABA derivatives ?
• Cinnamates ?
• Salicylates ?
• Octocrylene?
• Ensulizole?
• Aminobenzoates?
• Camphor derivatives?

2. UVA filters?

• Benzophenones ?
• Sulisobenzone,?
• Dioxybenzone?
• Avobenzone ?
• Meradimate ?

Hybrid sunscreen: A hybrid sunscreen combines the features and ingredients of both physical and chemical sunscreens. Hybrid sunscreen is said to be able to absorb quickly and feels light on the skin so that it remains comfortable to use.?

There are many types of sunscreens on the market today: from classic sunblocks and sprays to SPF powders and facial mists, the application methods are seemingly endless!?

Thanks, for reading this article. The varieties of sunscreen products are covered in this article. In the upcoming articles, we will explain how sunscreen comes in a variety of formulations and application methods.?