Keeping your favorite brand of sunscreen on hand is a necessity. The reality is, for healthy & youthful looking skin, protecting your skin from UV rays should be a priority for everyone. Be sure to use something every time you leave the house to avoid sun damage, like burns and sun spots, and prevent signs of aging, such as lines and wrinkles. Let’s examine one of nature’s most effective & safe ingredients used in sun protection- Zinc Oxide!
What is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc Oxide is a natural compound derived from the mineral Zinc. Existing as a fine powder, the compound is what chemists refer to as inert, making it one of the most eco-friendly ingredients used in sunscreen. It doesn't affect marine life, so jump in the ocean or lake guilt free! It’s so safe in fact, it’s used in dozens of skincare applications. It’s even added to cereals as a source of zinc, a necessary nutrient!
Why do we use it on our skin?
The active ingredient in calamine, zinc oxide has antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties. As many people use exfoliants as cleansers, this soothes the skin & is perfect for those with sensitive skin. It’s also helpful as we tend to get micro cuts in our skin as we play in the sand or rub against a pool wall. Zinc oxide is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores to cause acne or excessively oily skin
Why do we use Zinc Oxide as a Broad-Spectrum Sunblock?
Ultraviolet radiation does a number on our skin, degrading DNA, depleting collagen, & causing premature aging.When talking about UV Rays, we need to keep in mind we are talking about two things, UVA & UVB. UVA radiation can penetrate deep into the skin. It’s also the radiation responsible for making your skin age faster and develop wrinkles. UVB rays burn the surface of your skin.
Why do we use Zinc Oxide vs other minerals?
Titanium dioxide is another common active ingredient in mineral based sunscreen products. While it shares many of the same benefits as zinc oxide, it is not as effective at blocking the shorter wave UVA radiation. Zinc oxide is the clear winner when protecting your skin!
Why use mineral based products vs chemical based?
There is another family of sunscreen products that use chemical ingredients such as avobenzone and octisalate that absorb UV rays. While not harmful to the body there is less of a chance of skin irritation using mineral based products with Zinc oxide as the main active ingredient. Zinc Oxide’s molecular structure allows it to reflect UVA & UVB ultraviolet radiation away from the skin. It’s like wrapping your skin in a mirror, reflecting out the harmful rays. It is so effective at this, it is even used in space to protect astronauts eyes!
Why our mineral SPFs?
We at myDerm prioritize the healthiest & most effective ingredients in our products. We also strive to educate & inform our customers so that they can make the best decisions for their health. So when considering your next chemical sunscreen or mineral sunscreen, you’ll now know the “A to Zinc” in UV protection.