Featured Dermatologists
Lee Grafton, M.D.
Farhad Niroomand, M.D.
Learn about Sunscreens from
Todd Minars, M.D.
Learn about Skin Care from
Lisa Benest, M.D.
Despite what we know about the sun's ability to damage our skin, rising rates of skin cancer and actinic keratoses indicate that more people than ever are spending too much time in the sun without sufficient protection. This protection can be as simple as using an effective sunscreen.
With significant advances in sunscreen formulations, not to mention lightweight lotions and improved fragrances, there's no good excuse for not using sunscreen.
It may be useful to keep the following in mind:
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from BOTH UVA and UVB rays.
- • UVA leads to AGING, and UVB leads to BURNING. The SPF rating on sunscreen only measures how well the sunscreen blocks UVB. It does not measure UVA protection. Unless the product label says it blocks UVA, it probably doesn't.
- • You won't get a sunburn on dark days or through glass, because clouds and glass block UVB. But UVA penetrates both. So if you are driving in a car or working near a window, be sure to apply UVA protection to prevent premature aging of the skin.
- • Look for these UVA-protective ingredients: avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide, and/or titanium dioxide. Brand names include Helioplex and Mexoryl.
Slather it on! Most people use only ¼ of what is necessary to adequately cover their bodies.
- • Use enough sunscreen to adequately cover all sun-exposed areas. Use one ounce (two tablespoons) to cover the entire body.
- • An 8-ounce bottle should last for only 8 applications (or only two rounds for a family of four).
- • Sunscreens should be applied a half hour before sun exposure because they need this time to interact with the skin to work sufficiently.
A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 is acceptable, but an SPF of 30 is preferred. For maximum protection look for an SPF of 50.
- • Higher SPF sunscreens can be more expensive but provide better protection.
- • The SPF number measures how long the product will protect you from UVB rays before it must be reapplied. Multiply the SPF number by the number of minutes you can normally stay out in the sun before getting sunburned. For instance, if your skin normally burns after 10 minutes in the midday sun, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect you for 10 minutes times 15, or a total of 150 minutes. After that time, it should be reapplied. Remember, this SPF rating measures only UVB protection.
Sunscreen Reapplication
- • Reapply sunscreen regularly. Reapply immediately after swimming or sweating, even with so-called water-resistant brands.
- • Recent reports have shown that the terms like water-resistant or waterproof are not reliable.
- • The ultraviolet rays that can damage your skin can also destroy sunscreen so don't rely on them to work all day.
Keep sunscreen in your car, purse, backpack, and sports bag, and with camping gear and gardening tools so you don't forget to use it.
Sunscreen vs. Sunblock
Sunscreens use chemicals that interact with the skin. Sunblocks use inert substances, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, to physically block the sun's rays. This makes them less likely to cause allergic reactions and they start working immediately once they are applied to the skin. This makes them useful options for children with sensitive skin or who are too impatient to wait before going out in the sun.
Sunblocks used to leave a thick white paste on the skin, but many have been reformulated to be nearly invisible.
Remember to protect your lips too, using lipstick or lip balm containing sunscreen.
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