Physical Sunscreens
Physical Sunscreens by Jasmine Chan Source: Steussy, Lauren, and Catherine Kast. “Why Switching from Chemical to Mineral Sunscreens Might Be Your Best Bet.” New York Post , 26 May 2019, nypost.com/2019/05/26/why-switching-from-chemical-to-mineral-sunscreens-might-be-your-best-bet/. INTRODUCTION Elaborating on my article on ‘Sunscreens and Ultraviolet Light’, I will be looking into the science of how physical sunscreens work and their properties. INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL SUNSCREENS Physical sunscreens are commonly inorganic substances that sit on top of the skin after application and are able to reflect or scatter UV light. This includes chemicals such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ). These chemicals in sunscreen are 1/20th smaller than conventional pigments which are known as microfine pigments. They are then dispersed and spread evenly into a base. Combinations of these chemicals with other substances can potentially reduce UV transmission, which means that it provid...
