The word "sunscreen" is spelled with four syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. It is pronounced /ˈsʌn.skriːn/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced as "sun" and the second syllable is pronounced as "skreen". Remarkably, the correct spelling of "sunscreen" is often mistaken for "suncream" due to the two words sharing a similar definition. But, despite their close relationship, the spelling of the two words remains completely different, so don't get caught out!
Sunscreen is a noun that refers to a cosmetic or topical product designed to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is primarily used to prevent sunburn, skin damage, and various forms of skin cancer caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
Sunscreen typically comes in the form of lotions, creams, gels, sprays, or oils, and is applied directly to the skin before sun exposure. It works by blocking or absorbing the sun's UV rays, particularly the ultraviolet B (UVB) and, to a lesser extent, ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. By creating a protective barrier on the skin's surface, sunscreen helps to reduce the amount of harmful UV radiation that reaches the skin.
The effectiveness of sunscreen is measured by its sun protection factor (SPF), which indicates how long it can protect the skin from sunburn compared to the amount of time it takes for unprotected skin to burn. The higher the SPF value, the longer the protection provided. Sunscreen should be applied generously and reapplied regularly, especially after sweating, swimming, or towel drying, to maintain its efficacy.
In addition to protecting against sunburn, sunscreen helps to prevent premature skin aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and other sun-related skin damages. It is widely recommended by dermatologists and healthcare professionals as an essential part of sun protection, alongside seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, and using sunglasses to shield the eyes from the sun.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sunscreen" is derived from the combination of two words: "sun" and "screen".
The word "sun" comes from the Old English word "sunne", which is ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic word "sunnon". This word has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European language, where it is believed to have come from the word "suh" meaning "to shine".
The word "screen" comes from the Old English word "scren", which originally referred to a protective partition or shield. This word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "skranją", meaning "obstacle" or "protection".
So, "sunscreen" combines these two words to describe a protective product used to screen or shield the skin from the sunlight.