How do mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide physically protect skin from UV rays?
Answer
They sit on the skin and physically reflect rays.
Mineral sunscreens operate via a physical blocking mechanism, relying on active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to create a barrier layer on the skin's surface. This barrier functions primarily by physically reflecting ultraviolet radiation away from the skin, preventing the photons from penetrating the epidermis. A key advantage of this mechanism is that protection is offered immediately upon application, as no chemical reaction or absorption time is required for the defense to become effective. This contrasts with chemical sunscreens, which must be absorbed into the skin and undergo a chemical transformation to become active stabilizers that absorb UV energy.
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