Sunscreen

Synonyms

UV Protection

Definition

A sunscreen is a material that protects the skin from the harmful effect of the sun (that may cause skin cancer), and the active substance must be capable of absorbing UV radiation of specific wavelengths. The sunscreen agent is usually formulated in a “cream” formulation for ease application to the skin. The actives employed in these preparations are of two basic types: organics which can absorb UV radiation of specific wavelengths due to their chemical structure and inorganics which both absorb and scatter UV radiation. Inorganics have several benefits over organics in that they are capable of absorbing over a broad spectrum of wavelengths and they are mild and nonirritant. Both of these advantages are becoming increasingly important as the demand for dailyUV protection against both UVB and UVA radiation increases. The ability of fine particle inorganics to absorb radiation depends upon their refractive index. For inorganic semiconductors such as...