♪ The sun will come out tomorrow.Bet your bottom dollar there’ll be sun… ♫ Good old Annie! Actually, I’ve never seen it but I know the song. But she’s almost right – the sun is in full blast now! This usually means that people will be spending more time outside and increasing their risk of skin cancer.
What does SPF mean anyway? Sun protection factor (SPF) is to the ability of a sunscreen to block UVB rays, which can cause sunburns.However, it does not block UVA rays, which are more closely linked to deeper skin damage and can cause wrinkles! Both are important. Both UVA and UVB contribute to the risk of skin cancer.
Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of AT LEAST 15. Higher is better, but too high is just nonsense. The FDA is currently working on regulations that limit claims to SPF 50+.
Equally important to the SPF level are the ingredients of the sunscreen. Look for the following: avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. A San Francisco-area dermatologist, Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, says she recommends two sunscreens to her patients - Neutrogena sunscreens with Helioplex and Loreal’s LoRoche Posay.
When should you throw sunscreen away? According to James Spencer, MD, associate professor of clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, there is no consensus about how long a sunscreen stays effective after it’s been opened. If you have an open tube left over from last year, pitch it.
Lastly, experts recommend using a water-resistant sunscreen applied generously, a half hour before being outdoors, and should be reapplied at least every two hours or after right after swimming or sweating.
If you need one more reason to wear sunscreen, watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM
Do you wear sun screen on a regular basis? How about in the winter (UV rays still can get to you even if it’s not warm or is cloudy)? Let me know, I’m curious!