Zinc Oxide Uva And Uvb Protection

To achieve high spf values american sunscreen manufacturers must add uvb filters which drive up the spf value but result in a poor balance between uva and uvb protection.

Zinc oxide uva and uvb protection.

Solar uv radiation uvr is composed of uvb 290 320 nm and uva 320 400 nm wavelengths. The active ingredient in badger sunscreens the mineral zinc oxide offers excellent uva protection. Zinc oxide has been found to offer protection against broad spectrum ultraviolet rays uva uvb which is not always the case with chemical sunscreens that only block one type of uv light. In fact the concentrations of ordinary forms zinc oxide required for high degree of protection against the full range of uva and uvb inevitably produce some whitish tint.

Uvb rays have different strengths depending on sun s location and can be reduced by clouds. Titanium dioxide probably gives good protection but does not completely cover the uva spectrum as early 2000s research suggests that zinc oxide is superior to titanium dioxide at wavelengths 340 380 nm. This problem has been partly addressed by the advent of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a sunscreen agent one popular brand is z cote. Only two sunscreen active ingredients approved in the us avobenzone butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane and zinc oxide zno provide true broad spectrum protection against uva wavelengths 360 nm.

Zinc oxide provides broad spectrum uva and uvb protection while the inclusion of titanium dioxide ensures the formula is lightweight and adept at minimizing excess oil. Even some products labeled broad spectrum uva uvb protection have not always provided good protection against uva rays. Short wavelength solar rays of 290 320 nm mostly absorbed by the ozone layer. Today zinc oxide is added to many more skincare products beyond sunscreen it s also an ingredient in beauty lotions or foundations including.