Protect Yourself in the Sun

You know that sun exposure can cause skin damage and cancer. But when it comes to skin protection, confusion reigns. A recent study in JAMA Dermatology found that most people don’t understand sunscreen labels nor how to best protect themselves in the sun.

According to the Skin Care Foundation, more than 3 million Americans develop skin cancer every year, and 90 percent of those cases are caused by the sun.

“Nearly all skin cancers are preventable if you take the right precautions,” says Lisa Hladik, M.D., a Mills-Peninsula Medical Center internal medicine physician. “With our sunny climate in California, good daily sun protection is a must. It’s your best defense against skin cancer and is more effective than any anti-aging product at keeping your skin looking youthful.”

Follow these simple guidelines to keep your skin young-looking and cancer-free.

Cover Up

First things first: stay in the shade as much as possible during the sun’s peak hours, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. For babies less than 6 months old, avoid all sun exposure.

When you must be outside, cover up with lightweight clothing, UV-protective sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat. Ensure that clothes can screen out harmful UV rays by placing your hand inside garments and making sure you can’t see through the fabric. A dry, white T-shirt typically offers an SPF of 7, and dark clothing with a tight weave offers even more protection.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, look for clothing that features an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. Products such as SunGuard even let you wash SPF into your own clothing.

Watch UVA and UVB

When considering protection against ultraviolet (UV) light, be aware of both UVA and UVB rays. Even though UVB causes sunburns, UVA is just as dangerous, as it affects collagen, which gives the skin its strength and helps the body replace dead skin cells. UVA also accelerates sagging and discoloration.

“I like to remind my patients that A stands for aging, while B stands for burning,” says Michael Trauner, M.D., a dermatologist at Sutter Medical Group in Sacramento. “Both lead to an increased risk of skin cancers.”

“UVA rays also pass through glass,” Dr. Hladik adds. “So if you’re in the car or you sit by a window at work, don’t skip the sunscreen.” Not all sunscreens protect you from both UVA and UVB, so be sure to purchase products that say “broad spectrum protection.”

Use Sunscreen Rain or Shine

Up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds, so apply sunscreen as part of your daily routine—even on overcast or rainy days. Studies show that regular daily use of SPF 15 (or higher) sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma, the worst kind of skin cancer, by 50 percent.

Go for 30

The SPF number indicates how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For example, SPF 15 means that, theoretically, you could stay out 15 times longer before you get sunburned than if you used no sunscreen at all. So, if your bare skin starts to redden in 10 minutes, a SPF 15 sunscreen would let you stay in the sun for 150 minutes. But in reality, it’s not quite so simple. Many factors affect how well you’re protected from the sun, include your genetic makeup, your location and the time of day.

You may notice that most doctors, along with The American Academy of Dermatology, recommend sunscreens with at least SPF 30. “There isn’t much data that shows anything higher is more effective,” Dr. Trauner says. For example, SPF 30 blocks 97.5 percent of UVB rays, whereas SPF 60 blocks only a bit more, 99 percent. Plus, sunscreens with higher SPFs may be pricier and contain more harmful chemicals.

Check Sunscreen Ingredients

Scrutinize your sunscreen’s active ingredients list. Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone and mexoryl provide the best protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays. If you have sensitive skin or eczema, choose products that list only either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Not all sunscreen ingredients are equal, and some may be harmful. For example, many sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting ingredient, and retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may speed tumor development when used on skin exposed to sunlight.

To find effective and safe sunscreens, check out Environmental Working Group’s helpful list.

Apply Enough and Often

Most people don’t use enough sunscreen. You need at least 1 ounce—enough to fill a shot glass—to cover the exposed areas of an adult body.

Sun reflects off sand, water and pavement, so make sure to apply sunscreen to every bare area for complete protection from above or below. Don’t forget your ears and the back of your neck, and protect your lips with a balm that contains sunscreen.         

Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going outside; it takes that long to start working. Then reapply every two to three hours or after swimming, even if you’re using a product that claims to be waterproof or to offer all-day protection. Every sunscreen washes, rubs and sweats off easily.

Vitamin D Dilemma

Is it possible to over-protect yourself from the sun? With vitamin D deficiency in the news, you might worry that you may not be getting enough UV light.                           

“Although sun exposure can help with vitamin D production, it’s simply not worth the risk,” Dr. Trauner insists. “In reality, there are many other ways to get vitamin D. You can get enough just going to and from your car or walking your dog around the block.”          

Dr. Hladik agrees. “The bottom line is that it’s much easier to treat vitamin D deficiency with a safe, inexpensive supplement than to deal with the serious consequences of a skin cancer diagnosis.”