Chemistry in daily life - sunscreens

Sunscreen, also commonly known as sunblock, or sunburn cream, is a lotion that absorbs or reflects some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation with a wavelength from 400 nm to 100 nm and thus helps protect of human skin against sunburn.  Sunscreens contain one or more of the following chemical ingredients:

● organic chemical compounds, such as  p-Aminobenzoic acid and Ecamsule, which absorb ultraviolet light and release as it as heat.

● inorganic particulates, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or a combination of both, which reflect, scatter, and absorb UV light.

The UV light dressed in sunscreen products can be subdivided into UV A, UV B, and UV C.  UV A with a wavelength from 320 – 400  penetrates deeply into the skin and can lead to cancer and premature skin aging,  B with a wavelength from 280-320 causes your skin tanning and burns  your skin, and UV C with a wavelength from 280-320 is completely absorbed by the earth's ozone layer and atmosphere.