After a long winter, the temps are finally warming up, the days are longer, and the sun is out! It’s usually around this time of the year that we start spending more time outdoors. Like many people, you may be wondering where your old bottle of sunscreen is, or you may be faced with a wide array of sunscreen options on the store shelves.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in a lifetime. Melanoma is the most common type of cancer in young adults 25-29 years old. Sunscreens have been proven to decrease your risk of skin cancer, as well as prevent wrinkles and other signs of skin aging.
If you’re wondering about the basics of sunscreen or what you should be doing to protect yourself from sunburns and skin cancers, keep reading.
Dr. Jennifer Lee, Medical Director of REN Dermatology in Franklin and Board-certified Dermatologist, gives us a primer on sunscreen facts, when and how we should be using sunscreen appropriately, and explains why she never leaves the house without applying it.
What exactly do sunscreens do?
Sunscreens help prevent Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from damaging the skin. UV rays include Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) and come from the sun. UVA rays penetrate deeper in the skin and contribute to skin aging, wrinkles, loss of elasticity while UVB rays cause sunburns and skin damage.
Both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer. “Broad spectrum” on your sunscreen label indicates that it has been tested and approved to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
90% of non-Melanoma skin cancers are caused by UV damage. So if you can prevent sun exposure and damage with sunscreens and other protective methods, you can decrease your risk for developing skin cancer.
What does the SPF signify?
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) represents the sunscreen’s ability to prevent UV damage on the skin. The SPF number is calculated by how long the sunscreen can extend your time in the sun before you get a sunburn. For example, if you go outside on a sunny day with no sunscreen on and get sunburned in 10 minutes, then using SPF 15 theoretically extends that time by 15 times longer (or 150 minutes). SPF 30 would extend that time by 30 times longer.
However, it is important to understand that all sunscreens begin to lose effectiveness over 90 minutes. No matter how high the SPF you wear, I recommended re-applying sunscreen every two hours.
What number SPF should I look for? Is SPF 100 the best?
Studies have shown that SPF 15 blocks approximately 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. There is no sunscreen that can block 100% of UV rays. But over SPF 50, the added benefit of a higher SPF is minimal. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
I recommend using SPF 30 on a daily basis (to help protect from sun damage throughout the day) and SPF 50 for outdoor activities. Again, re-applying sunscreen every two hours while you’re outdoors is very important.
Also make sure you are using enough sunscreen to adequately cover your body and get the full SPF effect. If you are applying sunscreen to your entire body, an easy tip is to use 1 ounce (equivalent to 1 shot glass).
My sunscreen says it’s waterproof- do I still need to re-apply after swimming?
There are no sunscreens that are totally waterproof, so I recommend re-applying after swimming or heavy sweating. In 2012, the FDA issued new guidelines for sunscreen labeling. The terms “sunblock”, “waterproof”, “sweatproof” are no longer used. Sunscreens may be “water-resistant” but have to specify on their labels whether they provide 40 or 80 minutes of protection.
I don’t like the greasy feeling of sunscreen, I get break-outs after using it.
Fortunately, sunscreens are now available in a wide variety of different vehicle options, including creams, gels, lotions, sprays and even roll-on sticks. Find one that suits you and your skin type the best and use it! The best sunscreen for you is one that feels good and that you will continue to use. You may decide to use one sunscreen for your face and another for your body.
Gels are light and absorb quickly, and may be suitable for areas like the scalp, beard, or on oily skin. Sunscreen sticks are easy to use around the eyes.
Spray-on sunscreens are convenient to use on kids, but be careful to avoid spraying near the eyes, nose and mouth. If applying to the face, I recommend spraying into your hands first then applying it. Also be aware of which way the wind is blowing- you don’t want to end up spraying into the wind and accidentally inhaling the sunscreen! Another tip is to make sure you are applying adequate amounts of spray-on sunscreen and rubbing it in well. I’ve seen people with splotchy sunburns because the sunscreen was sprayed on unevenly.
Water-resistant sunscreens are also good for playing sports and sweating as they’re probably less likely to drip into your eyes.
Also don’t forget to protect your lips with SPF Lip balm!
It’s also important to wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and other protective clothing when possible, as well as staying in the shade. These are additional methods of protecting yourself from UV damage and skin cancer.
Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of this series.
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REN Dermatology will host an open house today, April 17th from 11a-2p for anyone who would like to check out the office, meet the staff and learn about their medical and cosmetic offerings. There will be giveaways and demonstrations too!
REN Dermatology is located at 155 Covey Drive, Suite 200, in Franklin.
