Summer has arrived so is our urge to go out on vacation, relax and enjoy time under the sun near beaches or hill stations. Sometimes we get caught up in the fear of sunburn, photoaging and our enthusiasm to feel the sunny zeal takes a back seat and we end up staying inside our home.

Currently, the dream to play in the sunny stream can be fulfilled with tremendous technological advancement in the development of new-generation sunscreens that protect skin from sun rays efficiently and instantly. The sunscreen market governed by the well-known sunscreen manufacturers in India is flooded with many supreme quality products but which one to choose depends upon the individual’s skin quality and innate nature. So, it is mandatory to understand the basics of sunscreen and its types which are made by the dermatology product manufacturing companies in India. This blog is an attempt to clarify all the doubts regarding the best-suited sunscreen in a simple reader-friendly manner.

At present sunscreens offered by the sunscreen manufacturers are available in many varieties such as bar, aerosol, cream, lotion, oil, tanning formulations, and makeup products. The effectiveness of sunscreen is challenging and depends upon many unavoidable factors such as

• Direct or indirect type of sun exposure.
• Sun protection factor (SPF) level.
• Amount of sunscreen applied.
• Maximum amount of sun exposure before sunscreen reapplication.
• Sunscreen type, its penetrability, coverage and spreading ability.

Constituents of Sunscreen

A sunscreen developed by the dermatology product manufacturing company is a perfect combination of active and inactive ingredients.

Active ingredients protect the skin from harmful sun rays they can be Aminobenzoic acid, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate, Meradimate, Octocrylene, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, Padimate O, Ensulizole, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, Trolamine salicylate and Zinc oxide.

The inactive ingredients used are mostly water or oil. In most cases, sunscreen acts on the skin’s surface to provide sun protection but sometimes it penetrates the skin and goes inside the body, hence it is crucial to be aware of the sunscreen ingredients, their penetrability and long and short-term effects on the body. So, it is very important to read and understand the sunscreen label before choosing it for use.

Analyzing The sunscreen label

●  Go for a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which offers adequate protection against harmful ultraviolet radiations (UVA and UVB), and absorbs or reflects sun rays, preventing them from penetrating the skin and causing damage by creating an active ingredient protection shield over the skin.

●  Check the sun protection factor (SPF), it predicts the sun radiation (UVB) protection ability of the sunscreen. Higher SPF means more sun protection capability of the sunscreen. SPF value of 15 is mandatory for offering protection from harmful sun radiation, sunscreen having an SPF below this should have a warning sign over its label.

●  Sunscreens with SPF 30: provide an appreciable amount of protection against skin-damaging UVB radiation. It gives 97% protection from sun rays and allows only 3% to get in contact with the skin.

●  SPF 50-containing sunscreens offer an additional layer and higher sun radiation protection level than SPF 30 sunscreens. SPF 50 sunscreens restrict 98% of sun rays from reaching the skin and let in only 2% of sun radiation (UVB).

●  PA Index: The PA index will tell you the degree of sunscreen protection from UVA. It is short for “Protection Grade of UVA,” then followed by a “+” sign, and can come in degrees of PA+, PA++, PA+++, and PA++++.

1. PA+: Protects against 40-50% of UVA.
2. PA++: Blocks 60-70% of UVA radiation, after 4.
3. PA+++: Offers protection from 90% of UVA rays with a potency of 8-12.
4. PA++++: You will get protection from over 95% of UVA, and the staying power with each application will last for a period of as long as 16 hours.

Some sunscreens don’t even mention the PA index; however, UVA-UVB, UVA/UVB, UVA1, UVA2, and even some brand symbols indicate the same. In the UK and some other European countries, the sunscreens that offer a shield against both UVA and UVB become known as “Broad Spectrum” or “Full Spectrum.”.

●  Boot Star: The Boots Star system is a commonly adopted way to measure the amount of UVA protection of sunscreens. It gives the ratio of UVA/UVB protection, which measures how well a product is providing protection to the skin against UVA radiation relative to the amount of UVB radiation.

The Boots Star rating is from 0 to 5 stars, the higher the number of stars, the better the level of UVA protection. To achieve a high rating, a product must deliver proportionately more UVA protection to UVB protection than a product of a lower rating. The star rating verifies whether the sunscreen provides equal protection against all the ultraviolet rays. That is, a 5-star rating would be awarded to the sunscreen, providing equal protection against UVA and UVB. If the sunscreen provides not-so-good protection from UVA compared to UVB, then the star rating is lowered. And for a 3-star, the UVA/UVB protection ratio of 0.6 to 0.79. A 4-star is 0.8 to 0.89. A 5-star is 0.

FACTS

●   Broad Spectrum Sunscreens Will protect from UVA (wrinkles) and UVB (sunburns) rays, and consequently reduce the risk of skin cancer.

●   Choose a Sunblock that is not Lower than 30 SPF as it already provides 97% protection from the harmful effects of the sun, which is quite sufficient.There is not anything as Water- and Sweat-Resistant in any of the Sunscreens

●   No Sunscreen should be applied on Babies 6 Months or Younger: Keep your baby completely covered and in the shade at all times it can be done.

●   Use Adequate Sunscreen via the “Teaspoon and Shot Glass Rule” One teaspoon is necessary for the face and neck, while an ounce (shot glass) is needed for the entire body. Sunscreen Has a shelf life of at least three years; be on the lookout for an expiration date or for any color/consistency changes.

Verdict of the sunscreen extended by the preserving sunscreen manufacturers in India

In pursuit of the right and relevant sunscreen, Biodeal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a renowned sunscreen manufacturer in India, has produced a significantly suitable SPF50+ – containing UV-protective skin moisturising sunscreen. Our sunscreen is the suitable and perfect solution, for all skin types and is a broad-spectrum sunscreen. It offers adequate protection from photo ageing and carcinogenesis. It is capable of effectively blocking a higher percentage of harmful sun radiation. Sunscreens offered, by the other sunscreen manufacturers in India is translucent which needs frequent reapplication and is not user-friendly. Our sunscreens are the best choice for fade tanning, effectively enhancing skin tone, securely brightening dull damaged skin and notably preventing and averting skin sagging and wrinkling. Biodeal’s sunscreen is enriched with an advanced antioxidant complex, dry touch.