Sunscreen: Difference between revisions

The product of sunscreen has been around for centuries, even in the ancient times.  For example, many of the ancient Egyptians desired beautiful, light, and radiant skin.  To achieve this was very challenging due to their hot, sunny, and dry climate.  In an attempt to find a way to protect their skin from sunburns and tanning, the Egyptians utilized certain oils and extracts to ward of the sun’s powerful rays.  They created special formulas which included many oils and extracts including, rice bran extracts, lupine extract, and even jasmine.  Even though the ancient Egyptians utilized these ingredients centuries ago, modern scientists still use many of these extracts and oils in certain sunscreens today.  Scientists have discovered that many of these extracts truly do have skin replenishing abilities.  They assist to heal DNA at a cellular level, but at the same time mending skin damage.<ref>Unknown, Author. [http://www.humantouchofchemistry.com/history-of-sunscreens.htm History of Sunscreens] ''The Human Touch of Chemistry''. Web. May 1, 2016- last updated.</ref> Zinc oxide was also being used in the 1920’s as a sun blocker.<ref>Unknown, Author. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen#Active_ingredients Sunscreen] ''Wikipedia.org''. Web. May 1, 2016- last updated.</ref>         

In South Australia, a chemist with the name of HA Milton Blake, created a sunburn protecting cream in the 1930’s.  A few years later, another chemist with the name of Eugene Schueller improved the invention to ultimately produce the first sunscreen.  Within the same time period many other chemists began to explore and experiment with the invention of sunscreen.  In 1938, a chemist named Franz Greiter, created a type of cream which was called Glacier Cream.  This cream included the measurement of the SPF factor.  Although this cream only included the SPF of two, it still was an important discovery in the history of sunscreen.  One of the earliest sunscreen brands was the Coppertone brand.  This brand was invented in the 1940’s by a pharmacist with the name of Benjamin Green.  Coppertone is a very common a well-known sunscreen today.  The iconic Little Miss Coppertone boosted sales and became the face of sunscreen. <ref>Unknown, Author. [http://www.humantouchofchemistry.com/history-of-sunscreens.htm History of Sunscreens] ''The Human Touch of Chemistry''. Web. May 1, 2016- last updated.</ref>

UVB rays are the main cause of sunburns and the damage of the skin.  These rays are the most intense of the two and they are the most harmful.  Although the UVA rays penetrate the [[skin]] more deeply, UVB rays are the main cause of skin cancer in sunburns.  UVB rays have shorter wavelength, but are more powerful.<ref>Epstein, John. [http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb UVA and UVB] ''Skin Cancer Foundation''. Web. April 18, 2016- last updated.</ref>

The effects and the benefits are very well known in regards to sunscreen, but what causes it function properly?  Sunscreen is made up of many active ingredients that give it its ability to block the sun’s dangerous rays.  The active ingredients produce a thin cover over the skin that causes the UV rays from entering the skin.  The active ingredients include avobenzone, oxybenzone, and benzophene. These three main chemicals absorb the UV rays.  Most chemical sunscreens only protect the skin from UVB rays, but there are many that provide protection from both rays.  Physical sunscreens, or sunblock, gives protection from both the UVB and the UVA rays.  Sunblock reflexes the sun’s rays back into the atmosphere by using ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Due to the varieties of sunscreens, there are some brands that use both chemical and physical ingredients.<ref>Barrymore, John. [http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/active-ingredients-in-sunscreen.htm What are the active ingredients in sunscreen?] ''How Stuff Works Health''. Web. May 1, 2016- last updated.</ref> <ref>Griffin, R. Morgan. [http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/whats-best-sunscreen What’s the best sunscreen] ''WEB MD''. Web. May 1, 2016- last updated.</ref>