What is titanium dioxide?

Titanium dioxide is a mineral composed of metallic titanium and oxygen. It occurs naturally, but must be refined from ore before it can be used. When refined, it looks like a fine white powder and is commonly used in sunscreens and other cosmetics.

The white color makes it one of the most widely used pigments in the world, used in everything from paper and paint to food, milk, and cosmetics, giving them white color. It is also used to thicken substances such as toothpaste. It also increases the opacity of the mixture, useful when the cloudy or transparent appearance is unappealing.

However, arguably the most important in terms of skin care is the use of titanium dioxide in sunscreens, which acts as the active ingredient and protects the skin from UV damage.

How does it work?

The ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause great damage to the skin. Once they penetrate your skin cells, they produce dangerous reactive molecules called free radicals. Free radicals can cause massive damage inside cells, targeting your DNA and creating mutations that can lead to cancer. The inflammation that occurs during sunburn is the body's way of preventing cancer caused by UV rays, but this process damages the collagen in the skin, so while it may stop cancer, it can cause wrinkles, sagging and skin aging.

Sunscreen blocks UV rays from entering skin cells. The role of titanium dioxide in sunscreen is to directly absorb ultraviolet rays and stop them from dying before they reach the skin.

Titanium Dioxide Rutile Tio2 POWDER Titanio Dioxide Pigment

Side effects:

Titanium dioxide is generally considered safe when used in cosmetics and creams such as sunscreens, but may cause dry skin, irritation, or acne. It is considered dangerous when inhaled as a fine powder, but this does not apply to creams. However, an allergic reaction to titanium dioxide may occur.

Interactions with other drugs:

It is not known whether titanium dioxide applied to the skin will interact with any medication.

Some of its other names:

Anatase, anatase titanium dioxide, brookite, nano anatase, nano TiO2, rutile, titanium dioxide, titania, titanium oxide, titanium white, titanium dioxide