Comparison of Chemical & Natural Sunscreen
Getting out in the sun is good for us when done in moderation and while wearing sunscreen. Natural sunlight stimulates vitamin D production in our bodies. We need vitamin D to keep our bones strong and to boost our immune system. Vitamin D may play a role in weight loss and in keeping our brains working in later life, according to Medical News Today. Too much sun can lead to a variety of skin cancers and premature aging of the skin, so it is important to wear sunscreen when going outside. Chemical and natural (physical) sunscreens work differently on the skin. Does this Spark an idea?
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Natural Sunscreens
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Natural sunscreens, also called physical sunscreens, form a barrier that protects your skin from the sun. Because natural sunscreens are all natural minerals, they are gentler for your skin than are chemical sunscreens. Some natural sunscreens are approved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide is preferred over titanium dioxide because it protects better against UV rays, according to MedicineNet.com. Natural sunscreens start to work as soon as they are applied.
Features of Natural Sunscreen
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Zinc oxide won't go on white and pasty as it did in the 1960s and 1970s. Modern zinc formulations have minute particles that are invisible. Natural ingredients in sunscreens with zinc oxide enhance the product, such as coconut or olive oil to make the product glide on easily, green tea, chamomile, lavender and vitamins A, C and E. It is easy to tell which the natural sunscreens are by reading the ingredients label. Zinc oxide protects against UVB and UVA rays.
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Chemical Sunscreens
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Chemical sunscreens do not act the same way in which natural sunscreens do. Chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin to protect it from UV rays from within. Chemical sunscreens come in higher SPF levels than natural sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens can irritate sensitive skin, especially ones that contain PABA, according to CBSMoneyWatch.com. Because chemical sunscreens need to penetrate the skin to work, people should apply them 30 minutes before going out in the sun, according to MedicineNet.com.
About UV Rays
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UVA rays are less likely to cause sunburn than UVB rays, but UVA rays might be behind wrinkling and leathering of the skin. Not all chemical sunscreens protect against UVA rays, so consumers need to check the label for "broad spectrum," according to MedicineNet.com. UVB rays are what cause sunburn and can lead to skin cancer and melanoma. While natural and chemical sunscreens will protect you from the sun, only natural sunscreens protect you from UVA and UVB rays unless the chemical sunscreen specifies that it protects from both. The Skin Cancer Foundation warns that even with sunscreen, some UV rays can get through to your skin, so give yourself a break from the sun when possible.
About SPF
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Natural sunscreens generally have an SPF of 15, whereas chemical sunscreens can go much higher. SPF refers to the length of time the product will protect you from the sun. SPF 15, for example, prevents your skin from reddening 15 times longer than if you were not wearing sunscreen at all. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, most people are fine using SPF 15. Skin cancer patients or people at high risk of developing skin cancer may want to use 30 or higher SPF.
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References
- Photo Credit girl applying sunscreen image by Stacey Lynn Payne from Fotolia.com
