Sunscreens – Effects, Application & Risks

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is part of every vacation. They protect the skin from the harmful effects of intense sunlight and can thus prevent the development of skin cancer. Sunscreens are available in different strengths.

What is sunscreen?

Sunscreens make it possible to stay in the sun for longer without the risk of painful sunburn . Because sunburn is a health risk, sunscreen should always be considered. There are different products on the market. Most often, however, sunscreens are sold in the form of creams. These include a specific sun protection factor and UV protection. Other important information on the package are sweat and water resistance, adequate adhesion to the skin , good tolerance and stability against air and heat. Recently, negative voices against sunscreen have increased. Some preparations solve allergiesand other diseases. Using an organic sunscreen can help.

Effect and medical application

Sunscreens are used in strong sunlight. The preparations are applied mainly in summer and in other countries. They protect the skin from sunburn. Any intense sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer at a later date . Accordingly, sunscreens can be understood to a limited extent as preventive treatment. Slight redness from a sunburn is a first-degree burn.

Blisters appear during the healing processup, a second-degree burn has occurred. Sunscreen can prevent all burns. For this, they must appear regularly and be renewed after swimming. The sun protection factor reveals the level of protection. A sun protection factor of 20 means that the skin’s own protection time increases 20 times. The self-protection time is the time in which there is no burning despite direct sunlight. If the self-protection time is 15 minutes and a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 20 is applied, the person concerned may stay in the sun for 15x 20 minutes. However, the self-protection time varies greatly and is dependent on the color of the skin, for example. Sunscreens prevent sunburn overall and thereby indirectly reduce the risk of skin cancer.

shapes and groups

There are many different sunscreens. These are sold in supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies in the form of creams, sprays or gels. A distinction is made between organic and mineral filters. Organic filters have two UV filters. They catch the UV radiation in the skin and convert it into thermal radiation, which means that the UV rays can no longer cause any damage. Depending on which wavelength range is changed, there are UVA, UVB and broadband filters.

For example, benzophenone, benzon, trisiloxane or drometrizole are suitable. Mineral filters remain on the skin’s surface and reflect the incoming sunlight. Some preparations contain, among other things, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or magnesium oxide. Sunscreen can be purchased from Eco Cosmetics, Lavera or Sun Dance, for example.

Dosage

Sunscreens need liberal distribution for adequate protection. No exposed body part should be spared. That’s why it’s helpful to ask friends or family members to back upto cream. Adults need about 30 milliliters for their entire body. In order to protect the skin, it is important that areas such as the ears, neck or the backs of feet and hands are not forgotten. The sunscreen should not be applied in the sun because the active ingredients need some time before adequate protection is created. The sunscreen is best spread on the skin at home. After swimming or intense sweating, reapplying sunscreen is important. After 15 to 30 minutes you should apply a second time. After that, it is sufficient to renew the protection every two hours.

Herbal, natural and pharmaceutical alternatives

As an alternative to sunscreen, a few precautionary measures are recommended. Very strong sunlight should be avoided. The sun is usually particularly intense at midday. At this time, staying in shady places will avoid sunburn. Especially for people with a very light skin, the use of protective clothing can be considered. This also prevents sunburns while swimming. Unprotected skin areas must not be forgotten. In addition, many recipes can be found in which natural substances such as vegetable oilscome into use. Because sunburn is unpleasant and increases the risk of skin cancer, it is better to avoid experiments. If in doubt, it is helpful to address the topic of sunscreen with the treating dermatologist.

Interactions and side effects

Sunscreens have long been considered untouchable. In the meantime, however, scientific evidence is accumulating that sunscreens are harmful. Some sunscreens contain carcinogenic substances. Nanoparticles can penetrate the skin. The health consequences of nanoparticles have not yet been adequately researched. Organic sunscreens in particular increasingly lead to allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin . With organic sunscreen products, the body is often protected by a mineral filter. Overall, this is considered to be more tolerable and harmless.

Sunscreens should not be seen as comprehensive protection against potential skin cancer. You reduce the risk of skin cancer by avoiding sunburn. However, such a tumor can also arise due to UV-A rays. These penetrate much deeper into the skin and are not blocked by sunscreen. Sunscreens keep UV-B rays out. However, UV-B rays are considered less dangerous than UV-A rays. That is why sunbathing should be enjoyed to a limited extent, despite sunscreen. Sunscreen can prevent the unpleasant consequences of sunburn. However, sunscreen products do not provide comprehensive cancer prevention.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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