Editing Sunscreen (section)

{{Short description|Skin product helping to prevent sunburn}}
{{Redirect|Sunblock|the electronic music group|Sunblock (band)|the Ball Park Music song|Sunscreen (song)}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[indoor tanning lotion]], the suntan lotion which intensifies sun exposure}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox medical intervention
| name         = Sunscreen
| image        = Sunscreen on back under normal and UV light.jpg
| caption      = Sunscreen drawing on skin shown on a normal photo and on a UV-photo
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| synonyms     = Sun screen, sunblock, sunburn cream, sun cream, block out<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3007 | title=Preventing melanoma | publisher=Cancer Research UK | access-date=2009-09-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522113412/http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3007 | archive-date=May 22, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| ICD10        = 
| ICD9         = 
| ICD9unlinked = 
| MeshID       = 
| LOINC        = 
| other_codes  = 
| MedlinePlus  = 
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}}

'''Sunscreen''', also known as '''sunblock''',{{efn|Sunblock and sunscreen are often used as synonyms. However, the term "sunblock" is controversial and banned in the EU<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ulprospector.com/knowledge/7288/pcc-eu-spf-regulations-labelling-and-claims/|title=EU SPF Regulations: Labelling and claims|first=Mojgan|last=Moddaresi|date=October 20, 2017|website=Prospector Knowledge Center}}</ref> and USA<ref name="fda2011"/> as it might lead consumers to overestimate the effectiveness of products so labeled.}} '''sun lotion''' or '''sun cream''', is a [[photoprotection|photoprotective]] topical product for the [[Human skin|skin]] that helps protect against [[sunburn]] and prevent [[skin cancer]]. Sunscreens come as [[lotion]]s, sprays, gels, foams (such as an expanded foam lotion or whipped lotion<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2022 |title=WHIPPED FORMULATIONS WITH DESIRED SENSORY IMPACT |url=https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/3023702/summary.html?query=whipped%2C+carpenter&type=basic_search |website=Canada Patent Data Base |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708152847/https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/3023702/summary.html?query=whipped,+carpenter&type=basic_search |url-status=live }}</ref>), sticks, powders and other topical products. Sunscreens are common supplements to clothing, particularly [[sunglasses]], [[sunhat]]s and special [[sun protective clothing]], and other forms of photoprotection (such as [[umbrella]]s).

Sunscreens may be classified according to the type of [[#Active_ingredients|active ingredient(s)]] present in the formulation ([[inorganic compound]]s or [[organic compound|organic molecules]]) as:

* Mineral sunscreens (also referred to as physical), which use only [[inorganic compound]]s ([[zinc oxide]] and/or [[titanium dioxide]]) as active ingredients. These ingredients primarily work by absorbing UV rays but also through reflection and refraction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cole |first1=Curtis |last2=Shyr |first2=Thomas |last3=Ou-Yang |first3=Hao |date=2015-10-02 |title=Metal oxide sunscreens protect skin by absorption, not by reflection or scattering |journal=Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine |language=en |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=5–10 |doi=10.1111/phpp.12214 |pmid=26431814 |s2cid=20695063 |issn=0905-4383|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schneider |first1=Samantha L. |last2=Lim |first2=Henry W. |date=2018-11-16 |title=A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12439 |journal=Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine |language=en |volume=35 |issue=6 |pages=442–446 |doi=10.1111/phpp.12439 |pmid=30444533 |s2cid=53562460 |issn=0905-4383|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* Chemical sunscreens, which use organic molecules as active ingredients. These products are sometimes referred to as petrochemical sunscreens since the active organic molecules are synthesized starting from building blocks typically derived from petroleum.<ref name="researchgate.net">{{Cite web | vauthors = Dinardo J, Downs C |date=April 2021 |title=Failure to Protect: Do Sunscreens Prevent Skin Cancer in Humans? |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352061297 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref> Chemical sunscreen ingredients also mainly work by absorbing the UV rays.<ref>{{Cite web | vauthors = Ko SA | date = September 2016 |title="Physical" vs. "chemical" sunscreens and other sunscreen myths |url=https://kindofstephen.com/physical-vs-chemical-sunscreens-myths/ |access-date=2022-01-09 |website=KindofStephen |archive-date=January 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109211351/https://kindofstephen.com/physical-vs-chemical-sunscreens-myths/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the years, some organic UV absorbers have been heavily scrutinised to assess their toxicity<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tian L, Huang L, Cui H, Yang F, Li Y | title = The toxicological impact of the sunscreen active ingredient octinoxate on the photosynthesis activity of Chlorella sp | journal = Marine Environmental Research | volume = 171 | pages = 105469 | date = October 2021 | pmid = 34500299 | doi = 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105469 | s2cid = 237469500 | bibcode = 2021MarER.17105469T }}</ref> and a few of them have been banned in places such as Hawaii<ref name="The banned sunscreen ingredients an">{{cite journal | vauthors = Suh S, Pham C, Smith J, Mesinkovska NA | title = The banned sunscreen ingredients and their impact on human health: a systematic review | journal = International Journal of Dermatology | volume = 59 | issue = 9 | pages = 1033–1042 | date = September 2020 | pmid = 32108942 | pmc = 7648445 | doi = 10.1111/ijd.14824 }}</ref> and Thailand<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chatzigianni M, Pavlou P, Siamidi A, Vlachou M, Varvaresou A, Papageorgiou S | title = Environmental impacts due to the use of sunscreen products: a mini-review | journal = Ecotoxicology | volume = 31 | issue = 9 | pages = 1331–1345 | date = November 2022 | pmid = 36173495 | pmc = 9652235 | doi = 10.1007/s10646-022-02592-w | bibcode = 2022Ecotx..31.1331C }}</ref> for their impact on aquatic life and the environment.
* Hybrid sunscreens, which contain a combination of organic and inorganic UV filters.

Medical organizations such as the [[American Cancer Society]] recommend the use of sunscreen because it aids in the prevention of [[squamous cell carcinomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_What_You_Need_To_Know_About_Skin_Cancer.asp|title=Skin Cancer - Skin Cancer Facts - Common Skin Cancer Types|website=www.cancer.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410204247/http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_What_You_Need_To_Know_About_Skin_Cancer.asp|archive-date=April 10, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The routine use of sunscreens may also reduce the risk of [[melanoma]].<ref>{{EMedicine|article|1119992|Sunscreens and Photoprotection}}</ref> To effectively protect against all the potential damages of UV light, the use of broad-spectrum sunscreens (covering both [[Ultraviolet#Subtypes|UVA]] and [[Ultraviolet#Subtypes|UVB]] radiation) has been recommended.<ref name="fda2011" />