Sunblocks - What you need to know about Ingredients and Amounts
Choice can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to sunblock. There are so many bottles, tubes, sticks, wipes and powders lining store shelves that it’s easy to be confused about what works best.
To help wade through the sea of options, it is most important to know that the Sun Protection Factor or SPF rating you currently see on labels relates only to protection against the sun’s UVB rays. UVB rays cause reddening and burning of the skin, which contributes to skin cancer. At this time, SPF ratings do not relate to UVA rays, which actually penetrate the skin more deeply, contributing to wrinkles, photodamage and skin cancer. New labeling rules may be finalized by the FDA in September, forcing companies to also rate their sunblock’s UVA protection (if any) on the label within 18 months.
In the meantime, Dermatologist David Pariser, MD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, recommends that “for now, consumers should look for labels that tout ‘broad spectrum’ protection and list ingredients known to screen UVA rays.” Specifically, consumers should “look for avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or ecamsule (also known as Mexoryl SX).”
In addition to using a broad spectrum product, it is also necessary to use the right amount. Studies show that most people apply only a quarter of the amount they should, which means the actual SPF they have on their body is even lower than advertised. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should use 1 oz. (shotglass sized amount) of sunblock to get the full SPF. During a long day at the beach, for example, one person should use around one half to one quarter of an 8 oz. bottle. Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. And, no matter what the SPF rating, sunscreens should be applied every two hours, especially after swimming, toweling off or excessive sweating.
There is also no substitute for shade and keeping the sun off your skin. If you are out at the beach or park, choose shady areas whenever possible. Wear a hat, sunglasses and SPF rated clothing to give yourself the best protection possible. We only get one skin, so do your best to take care of it! If you have any other questions regarding sunblocks, give our office a call - we will be happy to assist you.
Tags: avobenzone, broad specturm, mexoryl, oxybenzone, skin cancer, Skin Cancer Foundation, sunblock, sunscreen, titanium dioxide, uva, uvb, wrinkles, zinc oxide
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 5:12 pm and is filed under Skin Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
