Sun Care - Sunscreen - Sunblock

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Aging due to sun exposure photoagaing, that is aging produced by light. While photoaging is usually described as a cosmetic problem, it is also a serious health concern since it can lead to skin cancer. Sunlight is the major cause of extrinsic skin aging because it damages collagen and elastin and produces abnormal changes in other cells. Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin causing premature skin aging, skin, cancer, and a host of skin changes.
 ORIGINS Sunshine StateTM SPF 20 Sunscreen with natural minerals for face and body - (150ml)
Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Many skin changes that were commonly believed tobe due to aging, such as easy bruising, are actually a result of prolonged exposure to UV radiation.

The sun also affects the immune system UVB and particularly the UVA rays can damage the langerhans cells, which are important component of immune system within the skin. UV rays can damage the White Blood Cells can as well, rendering them important in face of the enemy. In addition damage to the langerhans cells and White Blood Cells can reduce the effectiveness of immune system leading to vulnerabillity of the skin to viruses and other diseases.

Sunscreen are photoactive materials that change their state from ground to exited when they absorb a photon with energy corresponding to UV. In this excited state they can generate singlet oxygen, which has the potential to cause long-term damage. If they penetrate into deep viable layers where they can cause changes to the DNA.

Sun care formulations are designed to deposit sunscreen molecules on surface of the skin. In fact these molecules must remain on the skin (not in it) to achieve a real measure of protective.

Sunscreens were initially developed to protect against UVB radiation, as the available compounds were UVB absorbers. In the 1990s, compounds with UVA-absorbing ability became available. Sunscreens are very effective at preventing ery-thema, the endpoint used in sun protection factor (SPF) determinations. Sunscreens are formulated using a number of different active compounds to increase the spectrum of absorption.

The most efficient sunscreens are those which offer broad spectrum protection. That block or filter out UVA, UVB and infrared rays. The chemicals capable of absorbing UVA have recently been developed (eg Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S and Parsol 1789) but often sunscreen manufacturers can best achieve blanket protection by concocting a blend of chemical absorbers and physical blockers.

The active sunscreening agents are divided into 2 groups: organic and inorganic. The organic compounds protect the skin by absorbing UV radiation.

Chemical sunscreens (Organic sunscreen) have ingredients that absorb ultraviolet radiation and, as result, prevent your skin from soaking up the rays.

PABA Esters

Octyl dimethl PABA (UVB)

Cinnamates

Octyl-methoxycinnamate (UVB)

Salicylates

Octyl salicylate (UVB)

Anthranilates

Methyl anthranilate (UVA)

Benzophenones

Oxybenzone (UVB/UVA)

Dibenzoylmethanes

Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane / Parsol 1789) (UVA)

Benzylidene Camphors

Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid / Mexoryl SX (UVA)

Drometrizole trisiloxane/Mexoryl XL (UVA/UVB)

Physical sunscreens have ingredients that deflect the sun's ray. Look for things like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The advantage of physical reflectors over chemical absorbers is two-fold. Firstly, physical blockers reflect the sun's rays equally and secondly, they are inert and so, unlike some chemical sunscreens won't induce irritant reactions.

Inorganic (Physical) Sunscreens

Zinc oxide (non-micronized or micronized)

Titanium dioxide (non-micronized or micronized)


SPF-how high can you go?

SPF is an acronym for "Sun Protection Factor". The number represents the Protection Factor that gives us the number of minutes you can stay in the sun with out burning (wearing no SPF) multiplied by the number of minutes you can stay in the sun after applying the sunscreen (wearning SPF).

SPF ratings are a measure of how long the sunblock lasts on your skin, not a measure of "blocking power".So, higher SPF values are appropriate if you are going to be in the sun for many hours and don't want to apply more sunblock later. However, if you sweat a lot, you should apply more sunblock after an hour or two no matter what the SPF value.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

The sun protection factor is a measure of the ability of a sunscreen to protect against erythema, which is thus primarily a measure of UVB protection. The SPF is a ratio of the dose of UV radiation required to produce a minimal erythema 24 hours after exposure in sunscreen-protected skin to the dose required to produce the same degree of erythema in unprotected skin. In other words: the SPF number defines how long you can stay in the sun before getting burnt. If it normally takes you 20 minutes in the sun before you get burned, an SPF 15 product will let you stay 15 times longer in the sun: 20 min x 15 (SPF) = 300 min (5 hours).

The SPF number on sunscreens relates only to a product's efficacy against UVB exposure. There is no rating system for UVA protection. Many dermatologists advocate using sunscreen with a higher SPF (30 or above), especially if you high risk of skin cancer. Even if you use an SPF 30 sunscreen, it might only carry an SPF of 15, depending on how much is applied.


How to wear your sunscreen.

If you buy an SPF 20, but use an insufficient amount you may only achieve an SPF of 15 or even 10.

• You need a minimum of a teaspoonful over your face and neck.
• A dessertspoonful for each arm and more than a tablespoonful for each leg.

You also need to apply it soon enough. Chemical filters, particularly, need time to blind well to the skin so you should apply your cream to dry skin  about 20 minutes before exposure. If you apply it to wet or sweaty skin it will rub off easily leaving you unprotected. And remember to reapply your cream often.

If you are swimming or playing sports you will need a water or sweat-proof formulation not only because your protection may wash away, but also because UV rays actually penetrate below the water’s surface.