Sun protection products come in various forms, such as mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. The active ingredients in these products help protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancer. Mineral sunscreens, also known as sunblock, contain the active ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and protect the skin by deflecting the sun's rays
. These are considered safe and effective by the FDA
. Chemical sunscreens contain carbon-containing molecules that absorb light, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone
. Some of these ingredients have been studied for their potential health effects and environmental impacts. For example, oxybenzone and octinoxate have been linked to coral reef damage, prompting Hawaii to ban the sale of sunscreens containing these ingredients
. The FDA has approved 17 ingredients for use in sunscreen, including titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and several others
. Some of these ingredients are also found in other products, such as lignin, melanin, silymarin, and other ingredients that have been added to high sun protection nature sunscreens without any physical or chemical UV filters
. In summary, sun protection products contain various ingredients that help protect the skin from UV radiation. Mineral sunscreens use titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as active ingredients, while chemical sunscreens use ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone. The FDA has approved several ingredients for use in sunscreen, and some of these ingredients have been studied for their potential health and environmental impacts.
