Chemical or physical sunscreen. Which sun cream filter protects the skin the most?
Surely they had never explained it to you until now... Every year, thanks to the arrival of heat and days in front of the sun, people start to worry more about their skin (especially to protect it from ultraviolet rays). However, as much as we want to protect it from the sun, the truth is that no one has explained how until now… In truth, what is the best sunscreen for your skin?
Well, it all depends on the type of sun cream filter that your skin needs ! Sunscreens can have physical or chemical filters , which will give us different defenses against the sun's radiation .
Differences between chemical and physical sunscreens
The biggest difference that we can find between chemical and physical sunscreens is based on their composition and the way in which they defend our skin from sun exposure .
Physical (or mineral) sunscreen not only reflects ultraviolet radiation , but also scatters it . In this way, this type of photoprotective prevents the skin from suffering (almost) sun damage to the skin cells , since they do not allow UV rays to pass through to the dermis .
On the contrary, chemical (or organic) sunscreen absorbs this radiation and converts it into heat . Although in these cases UV rays do penetrate the epidermis , chemical sun creams protect us from a wider variety of radiation than physical ones. This is perhaps why these are known as high-spectrum sunscreens .
But how do we notice these differences?
First of all, on the timeout from your . As chemical sunscreens act from the deepest layers of the skin , it is necessary to wait between 20 and 30 minutes until you are exposed to the sun to allow the dermis to absorb it . Otherwise, as the physicists stay in the epidermis , you can be exposed to the sun instantly from the moment you apply it.
Which sunscreen is more effective: physical or chemical?
According to dermatologists (and although there may be preferences for one or the other) both are equally effective , as long as they are applied correctly and with an adequate amount . What's more, the choice of sun cream that we use on many occasions is not determined taking into account its effectiveness, but rather the type of skin we have.
What sunscreen should I use?
In the case of people with sensitive skin (or in the case of boys and girls ) some dermatologists recommend choosing a physical sunscreen , since, by not reaching the dermis , it is usually less irritating . On the contrary, it creates a small film on the epidermis . It is also recommended on scarred skin or on areas treated with lasers , because they do not usually present skin reactions .
However, for oily skin , many agree that chemical sunscreens are best, since physical sunscreens are not as absorbed and can leave a slightly oilier feeling . So, the opposite happens for dry skin . Being more moisturizing and fatter , the physical ones are ideal to help the skin to protect itself from the sun.
Now that you know the differences between physical and chemical sunscreens... Which sunscreen do you choose for your skin? And if you still have more questions about photoprotectors , keep reading and discover, for example, what the sunscreen numbers mean .
