Summers are filled with sunny days to enjoy the outdoors, but you need to bring along the proper sun protection to prevent skin damage. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at the chemistry the sun triggers in our skin. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
We’re all well versed in the dangers of spending too much time in the sun. A golden tan after a few weeks away in the sun is everyone’s aspiration, but no-one wants to come back from a holiday red as a cooked lobster, hence the need for sunscreen (which we looked at in a previous post). However, if you’re unlucky enough not to have the time for a couple of weeks on the beach, you might be tempted to resort to tanning lotions to achieve a tanned look. These can induce the appearance of a tan, through the action of the chemicals they contain.