Sunscreens come in many forms: spray, gel, patch or topical… but generally contain physical or chemical ingredients that are able to block, absorb or spread some UV radiation on the area. skin exposed to the sun. The 3 types of UV filters that can be combined in sunscreen products are: Organic chemical compounds that can absorb harmful components of UV light (oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, avobenzone). Inorganic particles reflect, scatter and absorb UV light (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, superoxide dismutase, phlebodium aureum). Organic particles that can reflect, scatter or absorb light (tinosorb M, tinosorb S, mexoryl XL.). The American Cancer Society recommends that people use sunscreen because it can help prevent squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers, and to use broad-spectrum sunscreens because they can provide Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. What is SPF sun protection factor? SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a measure of the amount of UV radiation needed to create a sunburn on the skin. All sunscreens are tested to measure the amount of UV radiation exposure needed to cause sunburn when sunscreen is used compared with UV exposure to cause sunburn without sunscreen. Sunscreen. The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value. The SPF value indicates the level of sunburn protection provided by the sunscreen product. As the SPF value increases, the level of sunburn protection increases. Sunscreen is only effective when applied to the skin about 15 – 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Should choose sunscreen products with medium SPF, in the city only need to use products with SPF 20 – 30. A very common misconception is that consumers are often told that an SPF 15 sunscreen can provide 15 x 10 minutes = 150 minutes of sun protection without sunburn. This is not true because SPF is not directly related to the time of sun exposure but to the amount of energy exposed to solar radiation. Although the amount of solar energy is related to the length of exposure to the sun, there are other factors such as the intensity of the solar energy that can affect the amount of UV radiation. For example, the following exposures could result in the same amount of solar energy (because the sun is more intense at noon than at other times): Example 60 minutes of solar energy at 9 morning hours can be equivalent to 15 minutes at 13 pm. The intensity of UV radiation in sunlight is also related to geographical location, greater radiation intensity occurs at lower latitudes. Several other factors can affect the amount of solar radiation exposure bức – People with fair skin are able to absorb more solar energy than people with dark skin under the same conditions. – The more sunscreen used, the less solar energy is absorbed. Sunscreen wears out and becomes less effective over time so frequency of reapplying is important to limit absorption of solar radiation. The frequency of reuse is also affected by the activities the user engages in. For example, when swimming, sunscreen needs to be reapplied more often because water can wash sunscreen from the body. In addition, high levels of physical activity also necessitate more frequent use of the cream because this activity can cause heavy sweating that washes away the sunscreen. Because many different factors affect the amount of solar radiation, the SPF number does not reflect the length of time a user is in the sun. In other words, SPF doesn’t inform users about how long they can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. Instead, SPF is a relative measure of the amount of sunburn protection provided in a sunscreen. Different sunscreens will have different SPF ratings. There are sunscreens with SPFs between 15 and 100 on the market today, allowing consumers to compare levels of sunburn protection. The higher the SPF, the more protection your skin can get from the sun. But 3 times the SPF does not mean 3 times the UV protection. For example, SPF 20 sunscreen can absorb up to 95% of UV rays, while SPF 60 sunscreen can absorb up to 98.3% of UV rays; SPF 15 blocks 93% of UV rays; SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays; SPF 50 blocks 98% of UV rays. In Vietnam, you should choose a sunscreen with an average SPF, in the city you only need to use a product with an SPF of 20 – 30, when you go to the beach, you need to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 50+. In fact, the majority sun protection index is often not as advertised. Some surveys show that over 40% of sunscreen products with SPF sun protection do not reach the level stated by the manufacturer on the product.

Scientists’ discoveries at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and University of Florida (UF) have shown that marine biodiversity studies can enhance biomedical research. The naming of the compound Gatorbulin-1 (GB1) found in blue algae is a tribute to UF researchers and global partners who lit the torch for the discovery and traits of algae. lam. From self-defense to drugs Cyanobacteria are single-celled terrestrial and aquatic organisms around the world. They can use chemicals to defend themselves against predators. These chemicals also play a role in helping the cyanobacteria communicate. “ We studied a series of compounds called Quorum’s emotional inhibitors that affect the chemical signals that cyanobacteria have, ” said Dr. Valerie Paul, a chemical ecologist at Smithsonian Marine Station. used to communicate. The Quorum emotion is a name for the way bacteria communicate using chemical signals. The scientists examined the cyanobacteria’s communication and defense compounds to test for biomedical properties. Often they realize the compound’s medical potential before understanding why cyanobacteria take it. In a new study, GB1 was shown to have significant anticancer activity with the potential for a new drug formulation. But scientists are not quite sure how cyanobacteria use it. TS. Nature has optimized these compounds, which are created for a certain purpose, in the case of blue-green algae, said Paul, as self-defense. Chemical structure of Gatorbulin-1 (GB1) molecule. From the sea to the lab The blue-green algae targeted, Lyngbya confervoides, was discovered more than a decade before Dr. Paul started collecting this species. She quickly realized that the algae produced many different compounds, so she sent the samples to her collaborator Professor Hendrik Luesch for further study. But finding a new compound like GB1 that has the potential to make a new drug is a long process (not including the time it takes to add and test it to convert the compound into a safe, functional drug). The first stage of the procedure is to isolate and demonstrate that the purified compound can selectively kill cancer cells. Spurred by this discovery, Prof. Hendrik’s team was trying to find a way to synthesize the substance in the laboratory. A reliable way to produce GB1 is the first important thing to do in-depth research. “We like to stay in place to collect more cyanobacteria to isolate enough materials for advanced research,” Dr. Hendrik said. As organic chemists, we are able to replicate these natural molecules in larger quantities in the laboratory without having to depend on cyanobacteria. GB1 has been added to additional stages for the synthesis process. Scientists have discovered that GB1 targets a protein in cells called Tubulin – the same protein cells require during cell division and uses it to build ” internal scaffolding ”. While there are many chemotherapy drugs that target Tubulin, Prof. Hendrik and colleagues assert that GB1 is more special because it interacts with Tubulin in new ways. Now researchers are eager to see GB1 as effective in the real world as well as its potential to make anti-cancer drugs. The cyanobacteria that produced Gatorbulin-1 (GBI) was recognized as the algae Lyngbya confervoides. Healing ability of biochemistry Organic chemists often turn to nature to study drug formulation. For example, compounds in terrestrial life mechanisms such as plants and fungi led to the creation of important drugs such as penicillin that is now a staple of modern medicine. In the ocean, about three-quarters of the earth’s surface has yet to be touched by humans. “It’s really a chemical war in the ocean,” said Professor Hendrik. The more battles and communications like that will help us humans understand more about the active compounds that can apply to mankind. ” And Dr. Paul said: “From a chemical ecologist’s point of view, this biodiversity is equivalent to chemical diversity. We can find everything in the ocean we never dreamed of. ” Nguyen Thanh Hai ( (According to smithsonianmag) )