Sunscreen is an important product to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the suns ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause sunburns and skin cancer. Here are some details about sunscreen:

Ingredients:

• Sunscreens contain active ingredients that protect the skin from UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the suns rays and contain ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, work by reflecting the suns rays and contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
• Oxybenzone is the ingredient most often flagged as potentially worrisome by the FDA. However, the FDA is not recommending that consumers avoid any of the active ingredients currently in sunscreen, many of which have been in use in the U.S. for more than 20 years without proven claims of harm.

Positive:

• Sunscreen has been shown to decrease the risks of skin cancer and premature skin aging.
• Scientific evidence supports the benefits of using sunscreen to minimize short-term and long-term damage to the skin from the suns rays.

Negative:

• Some experts are concerned that certain chemical ingredients in sunscreens may be absorbed through the skin, leading to skin irritation, hormonal disruption, and even skin cancer.
• Mineral sunscreens have consistently underperformed in Consumer Reports testing, not always testing at the claimed SPF label on the package and failing to provide adequate protection from either UVA or UVB rays.

How to use:

• Sunscreens should be applied generously to all exposed skin 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied at least every two hours, and more often if sweating or jumping in and out of the water.
• The directions for using sunscreen products can vary according to their forms. For example, spray sunscreens should never be applied directly to the face.
• Sunscreens cannot protect against all of the suns radiation, so it is important to limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the suns rays are most intense, and wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.

In summary, sunscreen is an important product to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the suns UV rays. Sunscreens contain active ingredients that protect the skin from UV radiation, and it is important to apply them generously and reapply them regularly. While there are concerns about certain chemical ingredients in sunscreens, the benefits of using sunscreen to minimize skin damage from the suns rays are well-established.