Differences between Chemical and Physical Filters in Sunscreens

Chemical and physical filters are the two main groups of sunscreens that protect us from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays. Sunlight can have positive effects, such as improving our mood, but excessive exposure can lead to skin problems such as pigment spots, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. UVB rays vary in intensity depending on the season, location, and time of day, while UVA rays are constantly present at all hours of the day and can even penetrate through clouds and glass.

What effects do too much UVA and UVB rays have on the skin?

1. UVA Rays: Aging (Aging)

• Effecten op de huid:
  • Aging: UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin and are responsible for premature aging such as wrinkles and skin sagging.
  • Pigmentation: Prolonged exposure to UVA can lead to visible changes in skin pigmentation, such as sunspots.
• Bescherming:
  • Ensure broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Wear protective clothing and seek shade during peak sunlight hours.

2. UVB Rays: Burn (skin burning)

• Effecten op de huid:
  • Burn: UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn, which makes the skin red and sometimes painful.
• Bescherming:
  • Apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a high SPF every two hours, especially during prolonged exposure to the sun.
  • Limit exposure to the sun between 10 o’clock in the morning and 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when UVB rays are most intense.

Cancer Risk

Both UVA and UVB: Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to the risk of skin cancer. UVB causes direct damage to the DNA of skin cells, while UVA contributes by forming free radicals that indirectly cause damage and penetrate deep into the skin.

Differences between Chemical and Physical Filters

Chemical Filters

Chemical filters, consisting of organic compounds such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octinoxate, function by absorbing UV radiation and converting it into harmless heat through a chemical process. The chemical compounds in sunscreens can absorb UV rays from the sun. These compounds contain special molecules that have something we call pi-electrons. Pi-electrons can easily absorb energy, making them perfect for capturing UV light, which has a lot of energy.

Imagine that these molecules are small, energy-absorbing bouncy castles. When UV light (which consists of small energy particles or photons) hits these bouncy castles, they absorb the energy of the photons. This causes the molecules to jump from a calm state (the ground state) to a more energy-rich state (the excited state).

Now, molecules cannot stay energy-rich for long; they do not like being so active. So, after a short time, they jump back to their original, calm state. When they do this, they release the absorbed energy again, but now in the form of heat. This process helps to transform the harmful UV rays into something less harmful, such as heat, which helps protect the skin from sunburn and other sun damage.

Chemical filters in other words.
Imagine you have a black car standing in the sun. The black on the car can absorb a lot of sunlight. After some time in the sun, the car feels very hot when you touch it. This is because the car has absorbed the solar energy and is now radiating it as heat. In the case of sunscreen, the molecules in the cream absorb UV light in a similar way and convert this into heat, which is much safer for your skin.

Although effective in providing UV protection, chemical filters can sometimes lead to skin irritations or allergic reactions due to their penetration into the skin. This risk is increased in people with sensitive skin. In addition, some of these chemicals, such as oxybenzone, can have hormone-disrupting effects and have been found harmful to the marine environment, where they contribute to the bleaching of coral reefs by disrupting the development of coral larvae. Fortunately, there are new chemical filters in the works. In addition, chemical filters usually have a processing time of about 15 to 30 minutes before they start working effectively. This is because they first need to be absorbed by the skin to effectively absorb and convert the UV radiation.

Physical (Mineral) Filters

On the other hand, physical, also known as mineral filters such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide provide UV protection by physically acting as a barrier on the skin, reflecting and scattering UV rays. Inorganic compounds, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are often used in sunscreens. These compounds work by blocking UV radiation in two ways: they absorb the radiation and they also reflect it. This happens through something we call ‘electron-hole pairs’. Let’s simplify that.

Imagine that UV radiation consists of small energy particles. When these particles hit the inorganic compounds in the sunscreen, small holes and electrons (negatively charged particles) are created in the material of the compound. These holes and electrons form pairs. These pairs help convert the energy of the UV light into another form of energy, such as heat, just like the chemical filters do.

The big difference between inorganic and chemical filters is how they interact with your skin. Inorganic compounds stay on the surface of the skin and do not penetrate into the skin. This means they are less likely to cause irritation, which makes them a better choice for people with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions like rosacea or eczema. Because they stay on the skin, they also help to reflect UV rays, which means they give the skin an extra layer of protection against sunburn and skin damage.

Mineral (physical) filters in other words.
Think of sunscreen with these inorganic compounds as a mirrored sunglasses. Just like the sunglasses reflect light and protect your eyes, these compounds in sunscreen reflect UV rays away from your skin and also absorb some of the light, protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

Titanium dioxide is very effective against UVB radiation, while zinc oxide provides broad spectrum protection mainly against UVA and to a lesser extent UVB rays. Both are photostable, which means that their chemical structure and protective properties do not break down in sunlight. Physical filters are also more environmentally friendly; they are not associated with harmful effects on the marine environment and are typically better tolerated by the skin.

Although physical filters can sometimes leave a white haze, recent developments in nanotechnology have minimized this effect without significant safety risks. Nano-particles are so small that they cannot penetrate the skin, which is supported by recent research as safe.

New is iron oxide, protection against visible blue light.

Iron oxide is a relatively new ingredient in the world of sunscreens, serving as a physical filter offering protection against visible blue light, also known as high-energy visible light (HEV-light). This type of light is part of the spectrum that we can see with the naked eye and comes from both the sun and digital screens such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.

How does iron oxide work as a physical filter?

Iron oxide works by physically blocking or reflecting visible light, similar to how titanium dioxide and zinc oxide block UV rays. It acts as a shield that lies on the skin, where it reflects and absorbs light rays that can cause damage, such as blue light rays. This is especially useful because blue light can penetrate deep into the skin and potentially cause damage there, such as skin aging and disruption of the circadian rhythm.

Benefits of Iron Oxide in Sunscreens:

• Protection against blue light: Iron oxide helps protect the skin from exposure to blue light, which has been linked to skin aging and potential contributions to pigmentation problems such as melasma or dark spots.
• Safe for sensitive skin: Like other physical filters, iron oxide is not absorbed by the skin, making it less likely to cause skin irritation. This makes it suitable for people with sensitive skin or those prone to skin reactions.
• Immediately effective: Physical filters such as iron oxide work immediately after application. There is no waiting time required as with chemical filters, which must first be absorbed before they are effective.

Iron oxide in other words. Think of iron oxide in your sunscreen as a small, invisible umbrella that you spread over your skin. This umbrella not only blocks the sun’s UV rays, but also the blue light from your computer or phone screen, protecting your skin from the various types of light you encounter on a daily basis. This makes iron oxide an excellent addition to sunscreens, especially for those who spend a lot of time in front of screens or outdoors.

The choice between chemical and physical filters depends on several factors, including personal skin sensitivity, environmental awareness, and specific skin needs. Physical filters are often recommended for their gentleness and stability, while chemical filters can be chosen for their lighter texture and stronger UV-absorbing properties.

More about HEV protection with iron oxide

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What is SPF (Sun Protection Factor) on the packaging

SPF indicates how many times longer someone can stay in the sun without getting burned when using the sunscreen compared to not using the cream. If you are exposed to the sun for 10 minutes without cream and you just avoid getting burned, and you use a sunscreen with SPF 10, then you can stay in the sun for 100 minutes without getting burned.

Sunscreen creams have different values. The values refer to the degree of UVB protection (SPF), but say nothing about UVA or visible light protection.

So check your daily cream with SPF to see if it also has UVA protection, because that is not always the case.

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Live consciously

Disturbing reports and matters you don’t think about when you’re sunbathing on the beach, is the influence of sunscreens on marine life. It is estimated that annually 25-60 million bottles of sunscreen end up directly in the sea or through showering.  After  20 minutes of swimming, 25% of the applied sunscreen ends up in the sea. Chemical substances in sunscreen have an impact on the DNA of coral and the ‘coral bleaching’ effect is tremendous. Australians call the affected coral reef: Reef zombies. Coral, in turn, provides accommodation for 25% of all sea animals in the ocean.

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Mineral sunscreens have, as far as known, no impact on the environment. Read more about it here: Coral reefs

Sunscreen safe for marine life and coral: Sunscreenbulletin

Iconic Elements has deliberately chosen for tinted mineral non-Nano filters, Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide and Iron oxide because it covers both UVA and UVB radiation as well as visible blue light well, is safe for people with sensitive skin, children and pregnant women. Independently laboratory tested and widely achieved. Works immediately after application.