How Does Sunscreen Protect Skin?

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UV Rays
- Sunlight contains ultraviolet photons. When the photons penetrate the skin, they create free radicals, which are unstable atoms and molecules. These UV rays can damage your DNA. Short-term results are sunburns. Long-term results are premature aging of the skin and possible skin cancer.
  
  UV rays consist of two types of photons: UVB and UVA. The shorter wavelengths are UVB, which do not go as deeply into the skin as UVA photons. UVB wavelengths are responsible for sunburns and possible skin cancer. UVA wavelengths are responsible for premature aging of the skin as well as skin cancer.
SPF
- Sunscreen stops the UVB photons before they can reach the skin. The sunscreen contains molecules that absorb the UV rays, as well as pigments that reflect the UV rays. The SPF found in sunscreens stands for sun protection factor. The higher the SPF, the fewer photons penetrate the skin. A sunscreen, which has a SPF of 10, allows 10 out of every 100 photons to penetrate the skin. A sunscreen that has a SPF of 20 allows five out of every 100 photons to penetrate the skin.
  
  In order to protect the skin from UVA rays, the longer wavelengths that can cause long-term damage, the sunscreen must contain zinc oxide, avobensone, or titanium oxide, according to "Scientific American."
Effective Sunscreens
- According to WebMD, sunscreen manufacturers do not provide detailed information about their sunscreen products. Consumers are not aware that some of these products do not contain the ingredients necessary to protect them from UVA rays. A higher SPF is not a guarantee of full protection. According to a WebMD article published July 2, 2008, "The current sun protection factor (SPF) labeling system, which was implemented three decades ago, measures only protection from UVB rays-the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburns." The article explains that UVA "is a cause of skin cancer."
  
  The Environmental Work Group recommends the following sunscreens that protect against UVB and UVA rays:
  
  *Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30 *Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF
  30+
  *California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+
  *Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
  *Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum
  *Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40
  *Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 35
  *UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+
  *Sun Science Sport Formula, SPF 30
  *Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Photo Credit ClickArt by Broderbund

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How Does Sunscreen Protect Skin?

UV Rays

SPF

Effective Sunscreens

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