Breakthrough sunscreen protects and cools your skin simultaneously: All you want to know

What if your sunscreen could do more than shielding you from harmful UV rays? Scientists have found a groundbreaking formula that not only protects your skin but also keeps it cooler which can offer relief from the scorching summer heat. This innovative sunscreen, powered by

radiative cooling technology

, reflects both sunlight and heat, making it a game-changer in sun protection. The details of the innovation has been mentioned in the scientific journal ACS Nano.
The new formula combines the dual benefits of UV protection and radiative cooling. The secret lies in specially sized

titanium dioxide nanoparticles

that ensure cooler skin and reliable sun protection.
Sunscreen helps protect the skin from sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn, skin cancer, premature aging, and broken blood vessels, but helping it stay cool has been unheard of till now, which makes it a perfect summer essential.
This groundbreaking sunscreen can keep skin up to 11°F (6°C) cooler than bare skin and about 6°F (3°C) cooler than current sunscreens.

What is radiative cooling and how does it work

Radiative cooling functions by reflecting or emitting heat away from a surface, thereby lowering the temperature of the area underneath. This has already been in use to design cooling fabrics and energy-efficient coatings for buildings.

The magical ingredient

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), a whitish compound known for its ability to reflect heat has been used in the winning formula of the sunscreen. This is usually used in mineral sunscreens to block UV rays, but its standard particle size isn’t effective for radiative cooling.

Rufan Zhang and their team in this new formula changed the size of TiO2 nanoparticles, creating a sunscreen that combines effective UV protection with the added benefit of cooling the skin.

What is the sunscreen made of? The formula unveiled

TiO2 nanoparticles, water, ethanol, moisturizing cream, pigments, and a common silicone polymer used in cosmetics called polydimethylsiloxane were combined to make the sunscreen.
The sizes of the TiO2 nanoparticles were carefully adjusted to create a material that reflects both UV light and solar heat, and gave it a cooling ability.
The new formula showed an SPF of approximately 50, water resistance, and maintained its effectiveness even after 12 hours of exposure to simulated sunlight from a xenon lamp. Furthermore, it caused no irritation when applied to both animal and human skin.
The new sunscreen works very well in the hot and humid outdoor environment and was found to keep the skin of the participants for up to 10.8 F (6.0 C) cooler than bare skin, and up to 11.0 F (6.1 C) cooler than commercially available sunscreens.
The new formulation is inexpensive and costs only $0.92 for 10 grams of the mixture which is on par with the similar products already available in stores.
(Picture courtesy: iStock)