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Ready
for Your Screen Test? What Blocks the Sun Best
The first sunscreen was developed in 1928. In 1943, PABA - para-aminobenzoic acid - was discovered to be a powerful sun blocker.
But, it was not until 1978, the Food and Drug Administration categorized sunscreens as drugs and began regulating them as such so that the consumer could have some assurance of efficacy.
One of the most commonly found ingredients in sunscreens and sun blocks is:PABA: Although well-known, PABA is not the best sunblock you can use. It only blocks UVB light. Not UVA. It can cause contact dermatitis - irritation - on some people, and it stains clothing.
Some of the more recent sunscreens and blocks contain the following:Cinnamates: They absorb UVB, but minimal UVA. They are insoluble in water so they are used in waterproof sun protectors.
Salicylates: These were actually the first UVB sunscreens ever used, in 1928. They only block UVB but on the plus side, they are not water soluble and are very stable and non-sensitizing.
Benzophenones: The upside: they block UVA and UVB light. The downside: they are water-soluble, so ordinary perspiration and water removes them.
Anthranilates: Provide multiple UVA blockage. Generally safe and stable but they are oil-soluble, which means they will lose their effectiveness if you put say, an oil-rich lotion or crème over them or an oily sun-tan product.
Physical Agents: These are ingredients in your product that block UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared radiation. White zinc oxide, for example, the lifeguard's friend, is an old-fashioned physical agent. Some of today's newer versions have reduced the particle size down considerably, so they are micro-fine and not so unsightly. In solution or lotion, a physical agent such as titanium oxide provides a broad, protective barrier, yet is more cosmetically acceptable than the old formulas.
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