Today, with the strong development of industrialization and modernization, countries around the world are suffering the severe consequences of climate change, global warming, etc. Our atmosphere are strongly impacted, causing thinning, tearing, and puncture of the ozone layer, causing ultraviolet rays to directly impact human skin. In the modern age, the importance of protecting the skin from the effects of UV rays from the sun has become more important than ever. Increased exposure to sunlight, along with depletion of the ozone layer, has increased the risk of skin-related problems, including skin cancer and premature aging. Sunscreen is not only an important tool to protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, but also helps the skin become smoother and healthier. However, the sunscreen market is increasingly diverse with a variety of products and formulations, and choosing a suitable product is not always easy. Understanding the role and importance of sunscreen to human skin and health, this article presents the uses and mechanisms of action of the ingredients in sunscreen.

Keywords: Sunscreen, UV rays, UVB rays, UVC rays, SPF index, PA index, Skin protection, Physical sunscreen, Chemical sunscreen, Sunburn.

[1] Adam, S.A., Vidhi, V.S., Stephanie, M., & Keyvan, N. (2015). The History of Sunscreen. JAMA Dermatol., 151: 1316–1336. 

[2] Joanna, D.H. (2007). The Sun and the Earth’s Climate. Living Rev Sol Phys., 4: 1–64. 

[3] Matthias, W., & Michael, F.H. (2013). Sunlight and Vitamin D. Dermatoendocrinol., 5: 51–108. 

[4] Curtis, C., Thomas, S., & Hao, O.Y. (2015). Metal oxide sunscreens protect skin by absorption, not by reflection or scattering. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed., 32: 5–10. 

[5] Egerton, T., & Tooley, I. (2012). UV absorption and scattering properties of inorganic based sunscreens. Int J Cosmet Sci., 34: 117–122. 

[6] Smijs, T., & Pavel, S. (2011). Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens; focus on their safety and effectiveness. Nanotechnol Sci., 4: 95–112. 

Source of Funding:

The study has no funding from any institution.

Competing Interests Statement:

The author declares having no competing interest with any party concerned during this publication.

Consent for Publication:

The author declares that he consented to the publication of this study.

Authors' contributions:

All research work is from the author.

Availability of data and material:

All data pertaining to the research is kept in good custody by the author.