Sunscreen In The News: What To Believe and What To Ignore

Again, back to sunscreen. Some say it’s safe as others oppose that. Also, you’re likely to find a group of individuals arguing that sunscreen kills sea coral, and causes vitamin D deficiency. So, what to believe? Then why dermatologists recommend sunscreen? Let’s look at it!

Sunscreen means what?

Sunscreen refers to the products which are essential in protecting the skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It includes the two UV rays, which are UVA and UVB.

What Is SPF?

SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor. It gives a reading of the amount of solar energy needed to cause sunburn on one’s skin that’s protected by a sunscreen. It is this factor that’s used to create a comparison with the energy required to cause sunburn for the case of unprotected skin.

What Is The Definition For Sunscreen Filters?

Sunscreen filters refer to the active ingredient(s) contained by sunscreens. These filters are essential in protecting one’s skin from various wavelengths of UV.

What Are The Various Sunscreen Filters?

There are sixteen sunscreen filters in total. However, eight of them feature adverse properties such as turning the skin blue. These have a star mark.

Aminobenzoic acid
Aminobenzoic acid is an essential sunscreen filter that needs to be used only to a concentration of 15 percent. Also, this sunscreen filter is a robust sensitizing agent.

Avobenzone*
Avobenzone is the commonly used sunscreen filter in sunscreen formulations. However, it can only be used up to 3 percent.

Cinoxate
Cinoxate is the most preferred sunscreen filter because of its broad protection both for UVB and UVA.

Dioxybenzone
Dioxybenzone does not work best for today’s sunscreen formulations because it can turn the skin blue whenever exposed to UV light.

Ensulizole
Ensulizole is essential for offering protection against UVB rays. However, it is rarely used for the case of sunscreens.

Homosalate*
Homosalate belongs to the class of salicylates, and it offers protection against UVB rays.

Meridamate
Meridamate refers to the sunscreen filter that’s rarely used for the formulations of sunscreen. It is not the most preferred because of its bubble gum smell, and it can lead to allergic skin reactions.

Octocrylene
Octocrylene is essential for stabilizing UV filters

Octinoxate *
Octinoxate is not the best since it causes damage to coral reefs.

Octisalate*
Medical tourism companies and several other experts show that Octisalate is essential for minimizing pain sensation, and discomfort.

Oxybenzone*
Oxybenzone can cause DNA whenever exposed to UV light.

Padimate O
This filer can also cause DNA damage whenever exposed to sunlight.

Sulisobenzane
This filter is essential for stabilizing other UV filters.

Trolamine salicylate
This sunscreen filter is vital for relieving joint and muscle pain.

Titanium dioxide*
Titanium dioxide is essential for filtering UVB rays and some part of the UVA spectrum.

Zinc Oxide
This filter is critical for protecting the skin from UVB and UVA rays.

So, What Is True And Not True About Sunscreen?

Medical tourism companies show that there is little evidence suggesting that sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency
And there is not enough information suggesting that sunscreen harms coral reefs