It's summertime and that means swimming at the pool, barbecues, vacationing, boating and having fun in the sun. Spending time in the sun also means an increased risk of skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. A good sunscreen is important to decrease the risk of cancer and prevent premature aging of the skin.
Function
Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s invisible rays, known as ultraviolet rays. There are two types of rays: ultraviolet A, or UVA, and ultraviolet B, or UVB. UVA rays are longer and penetrate the skin more deeply than do UVB rays. They play a role in tanning and premature aging, including sagging, leathering and wrinkling of the skin. UVB rays primarily damage the superficial layers of the skin and cause reddening of the skin and sunburns. Both UVA and UVB rays are associated with skin cancer.
Types
Sunscreens are categorized according to their level of sun protective factor, or SPF. This tells you the ability of the sunscreen to block UVB rays and prevent UVB damage to the skin. An SPF of 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. There is currently no system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration available to measure UVA protection.
Features
Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays.Choose products that state “broad spectrum protection” or “UVA and UVB protection” on the label. If you are unsure that the product protects against both, read the ingredient list. Two ingredients that protect against UVA rays are oxybenzone and avobenzone. Ingredients that provide protection against UVB rays include padimate O, homosalate, benzophenone, octyl methoxycinnamate, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, octyl salicylate and octocrylene.
Considerations
If you will be sweating or spending time in the water, then you will need a water-resistant sunscreen. Look for the words “water resistant” on the label. Although no sunscreen is truly “waterproof,” water resistant means that the sunscreen will stay on the skin longer if it gets wet. People with allergies to chemical sunscreens should use a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, which physically blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the skin.
Expert Insight
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher with both UVA and UVB protection. Apply 1 oz., or about the size of a shot glass, of sunscreen to all sun-exposed areas of skin 30 minutes before sun exposure. This allows the ingredients to bind properly to the skin. Apply sunscreen even if it is cloudy outside. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 80 percent of UV rays reach the ground on cloudy days and can still cause sunburns. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, as well as after swimming, toweling off or sweating a lot. Finally, look for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s seal of approval to be sure that the sunscreen meets all the standards for safety.
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