SUNSCREEN AND SEA LIFE

Besides high SPF protection, how do you choose a sunscreen?

Sunscreen is made with either chemical (organic) or mineral (anorganic) filters. Sunscreens with a chemical filter are absorbed by your skin. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, the filter starts a chemical process that decreases the damaging effect of the UV radiation. But that process takes time, which is why it's advised to apply it at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.

A mineral filter is like a shield on your skin: it reflects the damaging rays. That's why mineral-based sunscreens are often very visible: they look like a white layer. Mineral sunscreens work straight away when applied to the skin.

Other factors also affect your choice, says dermatologist Dr Olasz Harken. “It depends on your skin type and where you live. Sunscreens in the US are regulated as over-the-counter drugs.

“In the US, zinc oxide gives the broadest protection, has the least environmental effect and it’s not absorbed into the blood. The problem with zinc oxide is that it can be chalky and white, therefore difficult to use especially for darker skin. Tinted versions can help but it’s impossible to make them as transparent as the chemical filters."

There is increasing awareness of the effects of sunscreen on sealife, which can lead to coral bleaching and hormonal disruption in sea creatures.

“Two ingredients banned in Hawaii and US Virgin Islands due to the potential harm to the coral are oxybenzone and octinoxate (also known as benzophenone-3 and Octyl methoxycinnamate or OMC),” adds Dr Olasz Harken.

“But in Europe, where sunscreens are regulated as cosmetics, regulatory bodies are looking into titanium dioxide, octocrylene and homosalate.”