CHEMICAL OR MINERAL SUNBLOCK?
Although in recent days the sun has kept on shining, preventing the warm clothes from hibernating in peace in the coffers, as soon as St. Peter is convinced for a day or two to dissipate the clouds (and with them the whole arsenal of weather afflictions), at the counter and in the conversations of the mothers’ WhatsApp group, questions are being raised about what are chemical, physical and mineral sunscreens.
There are differences between them, either in their composition or in the way they act:
The Physical or Mineral Sunscreen forms a physical barrier, a thick film on the skin, which protects the skin from solar radiation by reflecting the rays without absorbing them. This type of protector is suitable for children and people with intolerant and sensitive skin because it is not absorbed through the skin and does not cause skin sensitivity.
The chemical sunscreen exerts its protection by absorbing the solar radiation, it is cosmetically more pleasant, but as it is absorbed by the skin it can trigger allergic reactions in people with the most sensitive skin.
Currently, there are sunscreens that join the two, because both absorb and reflect UV rays.
But the sunscreen is just a part of the sunscreen! It is very important that the following precautions be taken:
- Avoid sun exposure in hours of high incidence of UV rays, between 12h and 16h
- Do not expose babies and young children directly to the sun
- Apply the protector 30 minutes before exposure, and then every two hours and after bathing
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat, umbrella, and sunglasses with sun protection (dark lenses are not synonymous with sun protection)
If in doubt, ask your family pharmacist for advice as this will tell you what the ideal protection for your skin 😉
You can read more about Care and Sun Protection HERE
