Using titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as a sunscreen and effectiveness against UV radiation?
I would like to know which if either are better at blocking UVA, UVB, and UVC (a problem in Australia) radiation. Is there any disadvantage or advantage to using both or either separately?
I know that the maximum allowed 25% solution of either, would there be an advantage to using a 12.5% solution of both?
I have a nice basic tan. I will be suspending the solution in a coconut, soy and olive oil. I plan to be wearing sun protective clothing and this will just be applied to exposed skin.
So if you have any ideas, comments or suggestions please share them with me. I also am well aware that I can buy equally effective, if not more effective commercially prepared lotions but I won't be doing that any time soon. I have too many allergies and hypersensitivities and too much of an independent streak. Thanks everyone.
Answer:
Both substances are essentially simple physical blocking agents which have broad spectrum absorption of light wavelengths including UV-A and UV-B (not sure about UV-C, but suspect they would work well against that too).
The reasoning behind the 25% max allowance is probably more frm a processing standpoint that for toxicalogical reasons. You would need to use pharma grade ZnO and TiO2 to ensure that you do not have any heavy metals, arsenic or cadmium in the blend. Also you will need an anti-rancidity agent (antioxidant - wheatgerm oil will work, or Vit E).
Your problem with "home manufacture" will be one of consistancy - you need to ensure the oxides are ground to micron or sub-micron sizing and a "tight" particle dispersion (ie all the same particle size - say +/- 50%). To get an aesthetically pleasing product, maybe even a nano-particle dispersion - these give a "non-whitening" type sunscreen.
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