Dr. Jennifer Lee, Medical Director of REN Dermatology in Franklin and Board-certified Dermatologist, continues her discussion on sunscreen facts. If you missed part 1 of this series, click HERE.
I’m indoors all day for work, I don’t think I need to use sunscreen.
We all get sun exposure on a daily basis, often without realizing it. This can be from brief periods of sun exposure while walking to/from the car in the parking lot, UV rays coming through the windshield and windows while we drive, sitting outside for a nice lunch break, sunshine flowing through a window at our office, or a rainy morning which turns into a sunny afternoon. Even on a cloudy day, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate and still cause damage to our skin. I recommend getting in the habit of using a morning moisturizer with SPF 30 – this way, no matter what the day ends up being, you will be protected.
Try keeping a travel-size sunscreen in your desk at work, in your purse, the car, and sports bags (golf bag, tennis bag), so you will never find yourself without it!
I don’t ever get sunburned because I have dark skin. I don’t think I need sunscreen, do I?
Remember that sunburns are mainly caused by UVB rays, but UVA rays can still cause significant skin damage and contribute to skin cancers, as well as wrinkles and accelerated aging. Despite not getting sunburned, you are still experiencing harmful UV damage when you’re exposed to the sun. Every time you tan, you get skin damage.
It is also well established that people of all skin colors get skin cancer. For instance, the skin cancer rates in Hispanics in the United States grew by 43% from 2000 to 2010. More often, their skin cancers, including Melanoma, were diagnosed at a later stage and were more advanced.
Bob Marley, the legendary reggae singer, died of Acral-lentiginous Melanoma, an aggressive form of Melanoma that was found under his nail.
Despite your perceived ability to tan well, it is still important to use sunscreen for skin cancer prevention!
What is safe to use on kids?
One blistering sunburn during childhood can double your risk of developing Melanoma later in life. So it is very important to start developing good sun protection habits in your children.
Sunscreens should not be used on infants younger than 6 months old. Instead, natural shade, sun-protective clothing, hats should be used.
On children older than 6 months, sunscreens may be used. I recommend using sunscreens containing physical blockers like Titanium dioxide or Zinc oxide. These are likely less irritating on children’s skin. Otherwise, the same guidelines apply to children as adults: apply 30 minutes before going outdoors, re-apply every two hours when outdoors or immediately after swimming or sweating. Sun-protective clothing, like swim shirts and hats are also important for protecting the delicate skin of children.
Are sunscreens safe? I’ve heard they are cancerous.
Sunscreens have definitively been shown to decrease your risk of skin cancer. In a time when skin cancers are the most common cancer in the US, and one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer, sunscreen is an important preventive measure (as are regular skin checks by yourself and your dermatologist).
There are sunscreen ingredients (chemicals like Oxybenzone or Retinyl palmitate) that have been questioned in the media on possible carcinogenicity. These have never been shown to cause cancer, liver damage, or hormonal problems in humans. Scientific studies have not supported claims that sunscreen ingredients are toxic or hazardous to human health.
If you still have personal concerns on using sunscreens with these ingredients, I suggest trying sunscreens that contain physical blockers (Titanium dioxide and/or Zinc oxide). Studies have shown these have very low absorption by the body. Combining a physical blocker sunscreen with other sun protective methods (wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts and pants, staying out of the sun between 10am-4pm) can help you decrease your risk for skin cancer.
I like to go to the tanning bed to get a “base” tan before going on vacation.
In case you haven’t heard the news- using tanning beds cause skin cancer! The World Health Organization has categorized tanning beds to be cancer-causing similar to smoking. In fact, the number of skin cancers due to tanning is higher than the number of lung cancer cases due to smoking!
People who have used tanning beds have a 75% increased risk of developing Melanoma and many states are banning the use of tanning beds in minors.
Using a tanning bed just once can increase your risk of melanoma by 20%. In people who started using a tanning bed before age 35 years old, the risk for Melanoma increases by 75%.
As a dermatologist, I strongly encourage you to discontinue using tanning beds. Even a “base” tan can cause skin damage. In fact, a tan is your body’s way of compensating and protecting itself against further UV damage to your skin.
As the evidence shows, even sporadic and minimal tanning bed use can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. In addition, using tanning beds can accelerate developing wrinkles, sun spots/freckles, leathery skin and other signs of aging.
SUMMARY
- Skin cancer is increasing in incidence and can affect one in five Americans this year
- Melanoma is the most aggressive of the three major skin cancers and is the most common type of cancer in young adults, 25-29 years old
- Using tanning beds can significantly increase your risk for skin cancer
- Using sunscreen has been shown to prevent skin cancer and wrinkles
- Schedule an appointment with your Dermatologist for a complete skin examination
Quick tips:
- Look for “Broad spectrum” on your sunscreen label
- Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before you will be going outdoors. It takes approximately 15 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed and effective
- Re-apply every 2 hours or after swimming/sweating
- SPF 30 for every day use
- SPF 50 for outdoor recreation (golf, tennis, sailing, running, gardening, hiking, skiing)
- Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to ears, scalp, neck and lips
- It’s never too late to start protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun, so don’t feel bad if you never used sunscreen before- it’s never too late to start!
- Children over 6 months old can use sunscreen, but preferably with Titanium dioxide or Zinc oxide
For more information on skin cancer:
American Academy of Dermatology: http://www.aad.org
Skin Cancer Foundation: http://www.skincancer.org
Suggested products:
For sensitive skin: Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen SENSITIVE SPF 30+
Spray: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist sunblock SPF 45
L’oreal Advanced Suncare Quick dry Sheer finish Spray Sunscreen, SPF 50+
Kids: Neutrogena Pure and Free Sunblock stick SPF 60+
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen BABY SPF 30+
Dry skin: Aveeno Protect and Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion Broad spectrum SPF 50
Oily skin: Neutrogena Clear Face Break-out Free Liquid-Lotion Sunblock SPF 55
Anthelios 50 mineral Ultra light sunscreen fluid (by Laroche-Posay)
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