Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a lotion that keeps your skin safe when you are outside. The sun gives off invisible rays that can burn your skin. Sunscreen blocks these rays so you do not get a sunburn. You should put it on before going swimming or playing outside.

Why Use Sunscreen

The sun gives off rays called UV rays. These rays can hurt your skin and cause painful sunburns. Too much sun can also make skin age faster. Sunscreen has special ingredients that block the UV rays. This keeps your skin safe and healthy on sunny days.

How It Was Invented

Sunscreen was invented in 1938 by a chemist named Franz Greiter from Austria. He got a bad sunburn while climbing a mountain and wanted to stop it from happening again. His sunscreen was called Gletscher Creme. Later, a pharmacist named Benjamin Green made sunscreen for American soldiers in World War II. Today, sunscreen comes in creams, sprays, and sticks.

Fun Facts

• The SPF number on a bottle tells how much it protects your skin.
• You should put on sunscreen even on cloudy days.
• Some sunscreens are made to work even in the water.

Did You Know?

The first sunscreen made by Benjamin Green was a sticky red paste that soldiers called 'red vet pet' for red veterinary petrolatum.