The overall safety of the sunscreen you wear is an important facet of sun protection. The product's sun protection factor is one consideration, says the American Academy of Dermatology. The active ingredients in your sunscreen, some of which are less irritating than others, need to be scrutinized if you have sensitive skin. Although wearing a sunscreen of any kind is better than none at all, the safety your product provides is only assured if you apply it correctly at regular intervals.
Sun Protection Factor
Sun protection factor is a good place to start when selecting a safe sunscreen. The numbers on the product label--be it SPF 15, 30, 70 or higher--are a source of confusion, says the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Many people who choose an SPF of 30 rather than 15 mistakenly believe that they can spend twice as much time in the sun without getting a burn. The FDA explains that SPF can't tell you how long you can safely stay in the sun, as it's only a relative measure of protection the product provides--SPF filters out 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 filters 97 percent. Time of day matters too. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 may allow you to stay outside without getting burned for an hour at 9 a.m. The same sunscreen may offer only 15 minutes of protection at 1 p.m., when the sun's ultraviolet rays peak.
Recommended SPF
When it comes to recommended SPF, advice from medical professionals varies. The Mayo Clinic recommends a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. The AAD advises reaching for the SPF 30. However, all agree that the higher the SPF, the better. The Food & Drug Administration states that the SPF you choose can depend on your skin tone. If you have duskier skin that tans easily and rarely burns, a sunscreen with SPF 15 may be all you need. But if your fair-skinned and sunburn easily, an SPF of at least 30 is recommended.
Sunscreen Ingredients
Any number of ingredients can go into your sunscreen to make it effective, but when choosing one, the FDA stresses the importance of making sure it offers broad-spectrum protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The FDA lists the following broad-spectrum ingredients you can look for on your sunscreen's label: benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octinoxate and cinoxate), ecamsule (Mexoryl SX), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and avobenzone (Parsol 1789).
Safer Sunscreens
The chemicals in sunscreens can irritate your skin. Integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil points to sunscreens that contained para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which is no longer widely available, as well as those with oxybenzone. Weil recommends products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide over all others. When applied, these non-irritating physical sunscreens create a thin barrier of protection between your skin and the sun. Zinc oxide, which once looked like thick, white stage paint, is now made in a colorless preparation. Weil goes on to say that sunscreens with Parsol 1789 also tend to be less irritating.
Application
The chemicals in sunscreen aren't hazardous, given their benefits, says Weil, who adds that the real danger of sunscreen is that people who don't use them correctly put too much trust in them. Sunscreen must be applied liberally--about 1 oz. or enough to fill a shot glass each time--to all parts of skin exposed to UV rays 30 minutes before you go outdoors, even on cloudy days. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or whenever you get out of the water, towel off or sweat a lot. For better sun protection, throw on a cover-up, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that block UV rays. Stay in the shade as much as you can when the sun is strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the AAD advises.
Other
There's one more thing you should know about sunscreens: They lose their effectiveness after three years. Dr. Martin Lawrence of the Mayo Clinic states that you can use the same bottle of sunscreen from one season to the next. If you don't know if your sunscreen has expired, check the bottle's expiration date.
