Chemical V’s Physical Sunscreen

People always ask us what is the best sunscreen to use? This is an ongoing debate which I will try to make clear and allow you to make the best decision for your skin type. Let’s begin with the types of sunscreen available: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens create a barrier between the skin and the sun. This type of sunscreen isn’t absorbed into the skin, but remains on the surface instead and reflects the UVA and UVB rays away from the skin. The two most common ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Physical sunscreens are also known as broad spectrum. They are more suited for sensitive, rosacea or pigmented skin types. 

Chemical sunscreens actually penetrate the epidermis and dermis. These chemical blocks penetrate into the skin and help to absorb the UV rays like a sponge rather than reflect them. These chemical sunscreens are generally light-weight and found in cosmetics. They are not suited to sensitive, reactive skin types or people who have pigmentation already present from the sun as they create heat in the skin making the pigment stand out even more. Chemical sunscreens are most suited to an oily skin type due to the fact these products absorb into the skin and are less likely to slide off.  Here at Complete Skin we offer both a physical and chemical sunscreen. For this coming summer, we will be donating $10 from the sale of every envirostat 50 SPF to the Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust. Our goal is to educate people on the importance of skin cancer prevention through the application of sunscreen. Please check out the link below to find out more about this worthy trust. 

http://www.amiestclairmelanoma.org.au/

Ruth Gorman (RN).