Mohammad Azad, Saman Ahmad Nasrollahi, Alireza Firooz,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2014)
Abstract
Although ultraviolet rays constitute a small portion of the sunlight, they are destructive on skin. Ultraviolet rays cause sunburn, skin damage and skin cancers. Sunscreens are one of the most widely used cosmetic products which protect skin from cancer or other damages. There are two categories of sunscreen agents: chemical and physical. Physical sunscreens containing zinc oxide work through two mechanisms of reflection and scattering. Physical sunscreens are non-allergenic, non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Currently, by using zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen formulation, both prevention of harmful sun rays and receiving cosmetic benefits are achieved.
