A Brief History of Sunscreens: How They Came into Existence

Sunscreens are an essential part of our modern skincare routine, helping to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun. But how did sunscreens come into existence, and what was the first sunscreen like?

The use of sun protection can be traced back to ancient times, with the Egyptians using plant extracts and oils to protect their skin from the sun’s rays. In the 18th and 19th centuries, sun hats and parasols were the primary means of sun protection, with women, in particular, using these accessories to shield their skin from the sun.

The first modern sunscreen was invented in the early 20th century by an Australian chemist named Milton Blake. Blake developed a product called Red Vet Pet, which was a combination of red veterinary petrolatum and coconut oil. The product was thick and greasy, but it provided some protection against the sun’s rays.

In the 1930s, a Swiss chemist named Franz Greiter developed a more advanced sunscreen, which he called Gletscher Crème. The product used a combination of sunflower oil and zinc oxide to provide more effective sun protection.

It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that sunscreens, as we know them today, were developed. These sunscreens contained UV filters that could protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and they were much lighter and easier to apply than earlier sunscreens.

Today, sunscreens come in a variety of forms, including lotions, sprays, and even powders. They are formulated with a range of active ingredients, including zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and various chemical filters.