According to Straits Research, the global market for sunscreens was valued at $11.66 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $17.8 billion by 2031. It is the fastest-growing sun care product segment among skincare products.
Sun care products are available in gel, lotion, cream, oil, spray, and other formats. They contain ingredients that can absorb, reflect, or scatter ultraviolet rays. While the science of Ultraviolet rays’ harmful impact on the skin is a relatively recent discovery, humans have been using natural products to protect their skin from the sun since ancient times.
The ancient Egyptians applied rice bran extract, jasmine, and lupine to their skin to prevent excessive skin darkening. The Indians have continued to use sandalwood paste, turmeric, and sesame oil on their skin for thousands of years. The practice has endured to this day. These herbs have been found to have a cooling effect on the skin and possess anti-microbial properties.
The Chinese used rice and herb pastes for sun protection, while the North American Indians used an extract from Tsuga canadensis—a pine—to soothe sunburns. Greek athletes used olive oil and fine sand as sunblock.
The first modern sun care product is attributed to L’Oreal. In 1944, a Florida pharmacist invented a product called Coppertone. In the early 1970s, the US FDA regulated suncare products’ labeling, testing, and rating. This helped standardize suncare products and permitted them to be labeled and claim therapeutic benefits.
Impact of UV rays
Anyone who has been out in the sun for extended periods has experienced reddening of the skin or sunburns. UV rays stimulate melanin production, which causes the skin to tan. The outermost layers of the skin are noted to thicken to prevent UV rays from penetrating the deeper layers.
People with fairer skin are more prone to sunburn than people with darker skin. Skin type affects one’s ability to adapt to UV exposure. Chronic exposure can cause the skin cells to degenerate. Freckles, diffuse brown pigmentation, an acceleration of skin aging, wrinkles, a reduction in skin elasticity, and dry and coarse skin development are seen.
Bright light makes us squint but does not protect us against the dangers of UV radiation from strong ground reflections from sand, water, and snow. People can experience reactions to delicate eye tissues like the eyeball and eyelids, causing them to inflame. The conditions can be very painful, but they are reversible. Extreme exposure can lead to snow blindness.
Sun exposure is a risk factor for cataract development. UV radiation is said to suppress the immune system and increase the incidence of skin cancers. It can further enhance the risk of viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infections. A high level of UV radiation can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. (WHO)
To protect the skin from UV radiation, the US FDA recommends limiting time in the sun as far as possible between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when UV radiation is highest. Those of us with field jobs used clothing that kept exposed areas covered. We used towels to cover the back part of the head between a sun hat and shirt. Sunshades on the eyes were compulsory.
Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
All sunscreens must be tested to measure the amount of ultraviolet radiation exposure it takes to cause sunburn when using a sunscreen product compared to when not using sunscreen. Here are some simple facts:
UV radiation consists of UVA and UVB rays. SPF values indicate the level of sunburn protection provided by a sunscreen product. Sunscreens have a wide range of SPF values, primarily indicating sunscreen’s UVB protection. SPF values can reach up to 50.
Choose a broad-spectrum product with an SPF of at least 15 for optimal protection. SPF values are not related to the time of solar exposure but the amount of exposure. A stronger middle-of-the-day sun will have a higher SPF value than the morning or early evening hours…..
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