Micronization And Nanoparticles: Ways To Understand Sunscreen

Why Use Sunscreens? 

When you go out in the sun, it is important to have a sizeable quantity of sunscreen slathered on your skin, be it the face or the other areas exposed to the sun. here it is better to decide the best SPF you need to use as the skin absorbs anything that is applied to it. The chemical ingredients involved in the creams are to be closely scrutinised for anything toxic or damaging. Most of the scientists prefer to bring the ingredients to your notice by including them on the labels helping users sort out the best lotions for themselves.

What Are The Important Ingredients And How Are They Measured? 

Here we find that it comes as not only important to know which offers the best protection without relying on toxic ingredients, it is also important to understand what terms like micronization, nanosized, and nanoparticles refer to when choosing the safest sunscreen. 

After a good slathering most of us are familiar with the white noses of lifeguards, and parents using non-toxic sunscreens used, to the ghostly pale residue left behind. Creating a powerful physical barrier to the sun’s rays, whereas it is cosmetically unacceptable to many people as the whitening is caused by zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Chemical absorbers were developed to replace these ingredients as historically to sidestep this undesirable result.

Compounds that penetrate the skin and then absorb UV irradiations are the chemical absorbers. As they do not create a whitening effect, these compounds including PABA, oxybenzone, and benzophenones have been used for many years. Whereas there are many chemical fillers, thereby degrading after prolonged sun exposure, irritating sensitive skin, as well as causing other long terms environmental and health impacts. 

How Are Manufacturers Creating The Best Product? 

Manufacturers have been back at the drawing board trying to create a product that is using physical instead of chemical barriers, whereas that which doesn’t clog pores and leaves a white residue coming full circle. They can achieve these goals which were found by shrinking the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide through a process called micronization. 

Thereby it is the process of reducing the average diameter of a solid material’s particles that comes to be known as micronization. When the particles that are produced are only a few micrometers in diameter, the term micronization is usually used. Until it becomes nan-sized, a particle can actually be micronized, whereas the word is used ambiguously.

A nano-sized material is not necessarily a nanoparticle, whereas nano-sized means having a size measured in nanometres. Any particle less than 100 nanometres in diameter is a nanoparticle. As it is 5 times larger than 100 nanometres, a material that has been reduced to 500 nanometres is not a nanoparticle. A particle must be less than 50 nanometres to enter skin cells, less than 70 nanometres to enter the lungs as a point of reference according to Kim Walls, MS, of Episenicial.

Here we face the question of safety. Some questions linger about the safety of nanoparticles while large-sized micronized particles appear to be both safe and effective. There is still concern regarding inhalation or ingestion as preliminary studies seem reassuring for topical use. 

What Should You Do?

Use a lotion formulation, not spray as also monitor children to keep hands out of mouths if you use a sunscreen that contains nanoparticles. 

You might need to call manufacturers to ask about their ingredients if you are researching different kinds of sunscreens that use micronized particles. Ask them specifically if they are using nanoparticles in particular. Ask for the particle size if you want to leave nothing to chance. 

It is important here that there are quite a few when it comes to the safety of using sunscreens. Hence whenever you use a sunscreen make sure these particle sizes are kept in mind. As researchers and manufacturers are hell bound on using the best technology creating the products that take care of skin, it is important to know how they are being viewed as healthy solutions to keep away sun.

What Should You Look Into When Deciding A Sunscreen?

It is recommended that the sunscreen you use should be made of safe ingredients using micronized particles, as well as nanoparticles. It is important to know that the size is best to be absorbed into the skin as also it doesn’t clog the pores or leave a white residue. Hence, we suggest you always check the label whenever you buy a sunscreen claiming to be made through micronization. We bring you more info in the coming articles. So stay tuned.