What is sunscreen?
What is Sunscreen?
It is a cosmetic/dermocosmetic product that protects the skin from the sun's harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays.
It creates a barrier against UVA and UVB rays with physical or chemical filters.
What is the Main Purpose of Sunscreen?
UVA (aging rays): Can lead to skin aging, spot formation, and deep DNA damage. UVB (burning rays): Can cause sunburns, immediate skin damage, and long-term skin cancer.
Sunscreen protects against these rays, preventing problems such as spots, wrinkles, and enlarged pores.
Why Should We Use Sunscreen?
Sunlight is both a friend and an enemy to our skin. While the sun provides beneficial effects such as vitamin D synthesis, uncontrolled exposure seriously threatens skin health. This is where sunscreens come in.
Sunscreen protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays, preventing many negative conditions from signs of aging and skin blemishes to even skin cancer. UVB rays affect the upper layers of the skin, causing sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deeper, leading to DNA damage, collagen breakdown, and premature aging.
When we don't use sunscreen:
Skin blemishes form faster, uneven skin tone appears. Wrinkles form earlier and more noticeably. Pores enlarge, and skin structure deteriorates. In the long term, the risk of skin cancer increases.
Moreover, UV rays reach the skin not only at the seaside in summer, but also on cloudy days, at home by the window, and even during a ski holiday in winter. Therefore, using sunscreen should not be just a summer habit, but a daily skincare routine.
Furthermore, modern sunscreens not only provide protection; many formulas also contain moisturizing, antioxidant, or anti-blemish active ingredients.
In short,
Using sunscreen is one of the most important steps to take to protect the youth, health, and radiance of the skin.
To avoid saying "I wish I had started sooner" in the future, it's time to make sunscreen the star of your bag from today.
What is the Difference Between Mineral and Chemical Filters in Sunscreen?
Sunscreens are products designed to protect the skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays.
The filters used in these products are basically divided into two groups: mineral (physical) filters and chemical filters. Although both filters have the same purpose, their working methods and effects on the skin are different.
Mineral filters create a protective layer on the skin's surface, reflecting the sun's rays like a mirror. The most commonly used mineral filters are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These filters are not absorbed by the skin, remain on the surface, and act as a physical barrier.
Therefore, they are frequently preferred for sensitive skin, individuals prone to allergies, babies, and children. They provide instant protection
and generally don't cause burning around the eyes. However, some products may leave a white residue, which may be more noticeable in individuals with darker skin.
Chemical filters, on the other hand, neutralize sunlight by converting it into heat after it has been absorbed by the skin.
The best-known chemical filters include substances such as Avobenzone, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone. These filters are easier to apply to the skin, don't leave a white residue, and generally have a thinner, more cosmetically pleasing texture. However, they can cause irritation or burning around the eyes in some sensitive skin types. Also, some types of these filters can harm the environment, especially coral reefs.
In conclusion, mineral filters offer more natural and sensitive skin-friendly protection, while chemical filters provide ease of use and a more cosmetically comfortable experience. Skin type, sensitivity level, area of use, and personal preference should be the determining factors when choosing between these two types of filters.