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How do the chemicals in sunblock work, to keep out ultraviolet rays?

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  • 2 decades ago
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    energy absorbtion. Quite simply (oversimply) the opposite of an (electric) stove turning red when hot: energy into coil, electron excitation, photon emission.

    The waxes and oils absorb energy, the molecules in the oils change shape/conformation to dissipate the energy (UV rays are eletromagnetic energy).

    parasol (not paba) is a cell cycle inhibitor which allows the cell to stop multiplying, and check itself for DNA errors. It does not block uv rays. this is an increasingly common ingredient in sunscreens.

    Source(s): am a surgeon
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