02/24/2025
The effects of potential damage from ultraviolet radiation exposure makes protective measures necessary for the human body, and as total avoidance of the sun is not a recommended or effective method, sunscreens are an important means of photoprotective measures. Sunscreens may be available in a number of forms, such as lotions, sprays, gels, and sticks, and they are often composed of different ultraviolet filter agents and moisturizing agents, photostabilizers, and additional photoprotectants like antioxidants.
The filters used in a product will then determine if the sunscreen is a chemical or physical sunscreen or even a mixture of both. Chemical filters are also referred to as organic filters, as they are aromatic molecules with large numbers of carbons, while physical filters are referred to as inorganic or mineral filters. Some common examples of physical sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and some common examples of chemical sunscreens are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate.
To learn more about the chemistry of sunscreen, read 's Christine Tian's latest primary article found in the February issue. Link in bio, my little skin nerds 🤓
