When you apply sunscreen, you not only protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays, but you also assist to prevent wrinkles and cancerous tumors. But how does sunscreen work?
At its most basic, sunscreen is a product you put on your skin to protect it from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
There are two types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. The ones that cause skin aging prematurely are UVA rays. Sunburn occurs as a result of UVB rays. Both forms of UV radiation can cause skin cancer, although only UVA radiation is linked to sunburn.
Sunscreen absorbs, reflects, or scatters the sun’s rays. Some sunscreens contain chemicals that absorb UV radiation. Others include minerals that reflect or scatter the radiation.
Both are critical in sun protection. The most effective sunscreens contain a mix of both. The most significant factor is to apply sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more.