Skin
A Sunscreen How-To
by Susan Wagner

This weekend marks the official start of summer, or at least the official start of pool season. While I cannot tell you how to get your thighs in shape between now and then, I can tell you how to make sure you've got your sunscreen on properly. Because I'm willing to jiggle at the pool, but I am not willing to burn.

Ready? Here's everything you need to know about sunscreen.

Coppertone

I'm seeing sunscreens with higher and higher SPFs, like 95 and 100. I've always used an SPF 30 -- do I need to upgrade?

No you don't, says a recent article in the New York Times. 

No SPF, not even 100+, offers 100 percent protection. What’s more, both UVA and UVB radiation can lead to skin cancer, which is why dermatologists now advise using sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 and UVA-fighting ingredients like an avobenzone that doesn’t degrade in light or Mexoryl SX.

The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and SPF 50 is marginal. Far from offering double the blockage, SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. (SPF 30, that old-timer, holds its own, deflecting 96.7 percent).

So a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 -- or even 30 -- works just as well as the more expensive SPF 100.

When I pulled out my beach bag, I found a full bottle of sunscreen from last summer's vacation. Is it still good?

Maybe, but don't take any chances -- experts recommend replacing sunscreens yearly, which means that the bottle you bought last summer should go in the trash, or be used as moisturizer. It's not the one you want to be slathering on before you head for the pool.

When you say "slather," what precisely does that mean?

An average size adult needs one ounce of sunscreen to cover her entire body -- that's about a shot glass full. Seriously. And you need to reapply sunscreen every two hours, if you are not sweating or swimming; if you're in the water, you need to reapply more frequently. "Water-resistant sunscreens lose their SPF after 40 minutes in water; waterproof sunscreens after 90 minutes."

That's what I mean by slathering.

Keep in mind, too, that for maximum protection you need to apply your sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go out in the sun -- so putting sunscreen on after you're all settled in your lounge chair at the pool is too late. Do it before you leave home. Also remember that your swimsuit -- or t-shirt or dress -- does not offer complete sun protection (unless you're wearing a fancy SPF fabric suit or shirt). Put sunscreen on EVERYWHERE (seriously) before you suit up.

And while you're slathering, don't forget about the tops of your ears and your neck and the part in your hair. Pick up a lip balm with some SPF, too.

What about those sunscreen sprays? They're so convenient, but do they work?

I am a huge fan of the spray on sunscreen, both for my kids and for myself (I use it on the very middle of my back, where I can't reach to get the lotion on). Recently, though, I've been reading that dermatologists recommend starting with a layer of lotion (that shot glass full) and using a spray for repplication. So again, slather up before you leave the house -- yourself and the kids -- and then spray everyone down at 45 minute intervals throughout the day.

I'm reading that sunscreens block Vitamin D absorption -- should I be worried about that?

No, and you definitely should absolutely not skip the sunscreen in order to get some Vitamin D. If you're wearing sunscreen daily on your face (which I wholeheartedly recommend) then you are getting enough incidental exposure during your normal day to boost your Vitamin D intake. But for a day when you know you will be out in the sun for a long time, especially around water, please lotion up. The damage that even a mild sunburn does to your skin is not balanced out, in any way, by the Vitamin D you will get from being sunscreen free.

Eh, I never burn. I don't really need sunscreen.

Au contraire! Our friends at FitSugar remind us that even if you're not turning red and peeling, you are damaging your skin by going out without some sort of protection. Skin cancer is a terrible look, no matter how tan you are.

Okay I get it -- sunscreen saves lives. But I'm still not crazy about covering myself -- or my kids -- in chemicals.

Point taken. Fortunately, Feelgood Style has the solution: 

Vive Sana sunscreens offer natural, organic safe protection in the sun- no phthalates, no parabens, no BPA, no nanotechnology, no synthetics just natural sunscreen created for healthy protection from the sun.

The bottom line is this: If you're going to be out in the sun this summer, be careful about your skin. For those long days at the pool or park or beach, cover up adequately and reapply frequently.

Here's to a sunburn free summer!

Susan Wagner writes about style at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate. She's a big fan of Neutrogena and Aveno sunscreens for herself, and Coppertone for the kids.

Submitted by Susan Wagner (view blog) on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 9:25am
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Comments

 

re: Vitamin D

May I ask for your source on the Vitamin D advice above. I was recently told by my doctor that I'm Vitamin D deficient, and that about half the US population now is, for a variety of reasons. I was told very different info than what you have above and have been making the considered effort to expose (not my face) but my arms and legs to 10 minutes of sunlight *without* sunscreen on most days.

For those of us who go from garage to office to car etc., we actually don't get much real sunlight at all for much of the year.

Just would love a resource to read more about it.

Thanks.

Elisa Camahort Page
BlogHer
elisa@blogher.com

My BlogHer profile truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

Submitted by Elisa Camahort on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:28
 

Good point, Elisa

I've talked with both my dermatologist (who we all know I love) and my sons' pediatrician about this, and was relying on their advice about sunscreen. Here's the dish from them about sun exposure and Vitamin D: They have both told me that what you are describing here -- short stints in the sun, with arms and legs exposed, is the simplest way to metabolize Vitamin D. Both have advised steering clear of the 10 am to 2 pm block of the day, when the sun is most intense, and have recommended a thorough application of sunscreen for long days at the beach or zoo or pool. But they both said that I don't need to to cover the kids -- or myself -- in sunscreen every single time we go outside to play in the yard for half an hour, as long as no one is coming in from that half hour looking burned.

My kids do not burn easily, but I do -- even that 15 minutes can turn me lobster red -- so I always lotion myself up, even if we're just shooting hoops in the driveway. I think it comes down to what you fear more; I don't worry about Vitamin D deficency for myself, but I do worry, a lot, about skin cancer.

For me, the bottom line is this: Use common sense about sunscreen and sun exposure. If you're planning a full-day cruise and you (or your kids) will be out in the sun for hours on end, then cover up, either with lotion or with appropriate clothes. If you're going to sit outside a cafe at lunchtime for half an hour, you don't really need to apply a shot glass full of Coppertone to your entire body; that can be your opportunity to get a dose of Vitamin D.

Friday Playdate

Submitted by Susan Wagner on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 09:10
 

I'm also interested in the

I'm also interested in the Vitamin D information source.  LOTS of research is being doing right now about Vitamin D and as the previous commenter said, about half of the population is thought to be deficient.

That aside, thanks for the great tips!  I have 2 young boys who make it so hard to apply sunscreen too, so I like the idea of using lotion initially and using the spray to reapply.  I think I'll be doing this.

Submitted by MeghanM on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:45
 

Overlooks other concerns with sunscreen

Curious that you would recommend avobenzone - which does degrade in sunlight within the hour. Physical blockers - titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are a much better solution, especially since study after study has shown that they do not penetrate the skin, even when micronized, unlike chemical sun blockers. Another chemical blocker, oxybenzone, is a hormone disruptor.

Plus, the article doesn't mention other concerns about sunscreen, such as eliminating exposure to potential harmful substances such as phthalates (found in fragrance in sunscreen) and other ingredients such as parabens, propylene glycol, etc.

Another issue is reef safety - most of the chemical sunsceens are not reef safe and do substantial harm to our aquatic systems.

Finally, spray sunscreens aren't that great on children - it usually results in the inhalation of sunscreen and all the ingrediens.

And, prevention is usually a better solutions - hats, umbrellas, etc. are all worthwhile.

Submitted by thesmartmama on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 06:29
 

Tops of your ears!

Do. Not. Forget. Them.

One summer I worked as a food cart vendor. Our cart was a big ole metal thing that we stood on all day. The first couple of days we were out the canopy wasn't ready yet. I dutifully slathered myself in sunscreen repeatedly and wore a baseball cap but do you know what I forgot? The tops of my ears. They blistered. I went to the ER and had to get special cream for the burns. It's difficult to sleep when your ears feel like they are about to fall off.

Now I just need to find a floppy brimmed hat that looks cute and doesn't threaten to fly away in the wind.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 08:53
 

Vitamin D deficient

Canada is another one of many Countries that report a lot of cases of Vitamin D deficiency. My son's Pedicatrician recommends a Vitamin D supplement during winter months.  My Family Doctor gave me a prescription for vitamin D supplements without me even asking since my sister has MS (an auto immune deficiency disease) which has been linked to lack of Vitamin D.

Great information on Sunscreen.  I didn't know there wasn't a big difference between SPF 50 and 100.  Good to know.

Maria Melo

http://www.conversationswithmoms.com

Submitted by conversationswithmoms on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 11:45
 

Lotion

I was at the Jersey shore last weekend for Memorial Day and I was the only one of my girlfreinds who put on suntan lotion! Are there a lot of people that dont wear sunscreen. I dont understand it. My brother died of skin cancer and I dont take any risks with the sun anymore.

Submitted by jennygirl69 on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 19:51
 

Good post!

Susan, 

I think you know my company builds health education web sites for the National Cancer Institute and skin cancer prevention is one of our main topic areas. Just wanted to let you know that this was a great article, and you are totally correct on every point.

Aimee

 

aimee/greeblemonkey
www.greeblemonkey.com

Submitted by Greeblemonkey on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 15:29
 

Sun Protective Clothing First, then Sunscreen

Thank you for the information about sunscreens.  It is important to know, however, that the thinking has changed amongst experts.  The recommendation now is to wear sun protective clothing as the first defense against UVR and then use sunscreens on the small amount of skin left exposed.  This approach is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Dermatology as well as most organizations concerned with skin cancer. 

There is an easy to remember acronym for all the leading edge advice about prevention and detection of skin cancer - SunAWARE

A-Avoid unprotected exposure at any time and seek shade

W-wear sun protective clothing including a hat with a three inch brim and sunglasses

A-apply broad spectrum sunscreen before exposure and every two hours while exposed

R-routinely check your skin and report suspicious changes to a health care professional

E-educate your family and community 

 

You can find a lot of background information about SunAWARE at http://sunaware.org/blog

Be SunAWARE and Be Safe

Thank you

Mary Barrow

Submitted by sunprotect3443 on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 12:37