It‘s All in the Filter

Summer’s here! It’s time to get out your cool sunglasses, new bikini and colorful flip-flops and enjoy the holidays at the beach. And don’t forget to bring one more important item: a high-quality sunscreen. It should be easily applied and rapidly absorbed by the skin, and must provide perfect protection, without leaving a telltale white film. But this “whitewashing” effect, usually a characteristic feature of mineral UV filters, is now history. Sunscreen products made with mineral filters from the research labs of Evonik Industries prevent this unsightly white film from developing on the skin.

Enjoyable as sunbathing may be, it’s important to remember that your risk of developing skin cancer increases dramatically if you use the wrong sunscreen. When selecting a sunscreen product, consider the sun protection factor (SPF) and the properties of the UV filter, as well as your own skin type, too.

The properties of the UV filters in sunscreens are important to sunbathers. Sunscreens with mineral or inorganic light protection filters are clearly superior to products with chemical filters. The substances in inorganic filters reflect sunlight striking the surface of the skin, while chemical filters absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into heat. The components of chemical filters penetrate the outer layers of the skin and may cause intolerance or allergies in persons with sensitive skin. For this reason, dermatologists recommend inorganic filters, which are gentle to the skin and are well tolerated. Moreover, the substances in inorganic filters act immediately on application, while products with chemical filters need half an hour to work effectively. Thanks to these advantages, the proportion of sunscreen products with inorganic UV filters continues to grow.

Inorganic titanium dioxide and zinc oxide filter particles from Evonik offer other key advantages that make them particularly attractive to users of sunscreen cosmetics: They are distinguished by a high sun protection factor, are effective even at relatively low concentrations, and offer reliable protection over an extended period because they are photostable and do not decompose in sunlight. Moreover, the filter protects not only against the UV-B radiation, which is mainly responsible for sunburn, but also against much of the longer wavelength UV-A radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin and makes the body more vulnerable to skin cancer. Labeling of sunscreen products to indicate the level of UV-A protection was standardized throughout the European Union sicne 2007, and now it is mandatory for all producers. Sunscreens checked for UV-B protection that also offer adequate UV-A protection are identified by a UVA logo printed on the packaging.

But even the best sunscreen can work only if applied all over the skin. Headgear, suitable clothing, and a good pair of sunglasses are also important because UV light also damages the eyes. Sunscreen products must not be used after their expiration dates. We recommend that you finish an opened receptacle and treat yourself to a new one the following season.