SUNSCREEN 101

We learned in my previous blog that sunscreen is your best protection against  visible skin aging and skin cancer.  You are now ready to go out and purchase your summer supply of sunscreen, so let’s run down a few of the basic rules before you break out your wallet.

1. Basically, SPF protects you from UVB rays, or the burning rays.  SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.  In more specific terms, it’s really about Sunburn Protection Factor.  The SPF rating on a package of sunscreen indicates the number of minutes you will be protected from burning in the sun.  SPF multiplied by the number of minutes it takes you to burn (without protection) gives you the amount of time your skin will be protected from burning.  For example, if your skin burns in the sun after 10 minutes with no sun protection, a SPF 15 will give you 15 times 10 minutes of protection, or 150 minutes of protection before your skin starts to burn.  An SPF 30 will give you 300 minutes of protection, if you normally burn after 10 minutes with no protection.

 2. In addition to UVB protection, we also need UVA protection.  UVA rays are the ones we do not feel – they penetrate deeper into the skin and cause visible aging and skin cancer.  Even though sunscreen products are labeled “broad-spectrum protection,” learn how to correctly decipher an ingredient list.  Look for at least one of these ingredients on the Active Ingredients list:

• Avobenzone (Parsol 1789)
• Titanium Dioxide
• Zinc Oxide
• Mexoryl (Ecamsule)

 Many sunscreens are formulated with ingredients that “sound” like these – but again, you want at least ONE of these EXACT ingredients for proper UVA protection.  If you do not see at least one of these ingredients on the Active Ingredient list, try a different sunscreen.  At a trip to my local drugstore recently, it was easier for me to find many sunscreen products that DO include at least one of these ingredients rather than sunscreens that don’t.

 Some common questions about sunscreen:

1. How much sunscreen do I need to protect my whole body?  How much should I wear to protect my face?

For proper all-over protection, start with at least 1 full ounce (the size of a shot glass) of product to cover your entire exposed body parts.  Remember too that clothing does not provide full protection, so definitely consider covering the unexposed areas as well.  For the face and neck, apply about ½ teaspoon.  Don’t forget about your ears and the back of your neck.  This means you will need to purchase several tubes of sunscreen this summer. 

 2. Why do I have to reapply?  Aren’t I protected all day when I put on a SPF 30?

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends two full applications to cool dry skin spaced 30 minutes apart every morning, to help protect all day.  The reason why reapplication is recommended is that sun exposure mixed with the acid mantle in your skin will break down the effectiveness of your sunscreen after a couple of hours.  And reapplication is necessary after spending time in the water or after sweating.  

 3. Why do I still get tan when I wear sun protection?

SPF is protecting your skin from burning and cancer, but not from turning tan.  For fairer to medium skin types, a tan is the immune system’s way of protecting the skin from exposure, which means any tan in the skin is really a sign of damage.  No sunscreen, no matter how high a SPF rating it has, will completely block all rays – unless you are wearing 100% zinc oxide (like the lifeguards do).  SPF 2 gives a 50% block, a SPF 15 provides a 92% block, and SPF 30 provides about a 94% block.

4. Which ingredients are better for sensitive skin, or if I break out when I wear sunscreen?

If you have sensitive skin, look for Zinc Oxide as the Active Ingredient.  If you have a tendency to break out, try to find non-comedogenic formulas made with Avobenzone or Zinc Oxide.

In conclusion, visible skin aging really plays a secondary part to deadly or disfiguring skin cancer.  In recent years, skin cancers have become epidemic in the United States — with that knowledge, we need to be more proactive when it comes to protecting ourselves from harmful damaging UV radiation that occurs on a daily basis.

More sunscreen education to coming soon!

Please check out my Facebook quiz: What is your Skin Cancer Risk?