Protect Your Skin This Summer
Warmer days have arrived. Getting outside daily to walk, garden, golf, or any other activity of your choosing can be of great benefit to your mental and physical health. I encourage you to add this to your routine. It is important to do this safely, however, and protect your skin at all times.
Increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB), which is present in sunlight, increases your risk of skin cancer and photoaging (wrinkles, pigment changes). This occurs via both cumulative exposure over decades as well as short-term intense sun burns. While it is important to protect your skin at all hours of the day, peak hours, between 10am and 3pm, can cause the most significant damage. Avoidance of the sun altogether and seeking out shaded areas whenever possible, especially during these hours, is one tactic, though not always realistic.
Another option is sun-protective clothing, blankets, or towels. Sun-protective clothing can be graded using the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). The higher this value the more protective. A UPF >50 is considered excellent protection, offering >98% protection. UPF between 30-40 is considered very good. Prior to purchasing your summer wear, check the UPF.
The final option for protection is sunscreen. Not all sunscreens are created equal. There are a few key criteria to be aware of.
We commonly think of ultraviolet B being the predominant cause of sun damage. In recent years, we’ve come to realize that ultraviolet A can also cause this damage. That means it is important your sunscreen has protection against both UVB and UVA. This is considered “broad spectrum” when looking at labels.
Your sunscreen should always be water or sweat resistant.
Like UPF for garments, sunscreen has a sun protective factor (SPF) to evaluate the level of protection. Again, the higher this number the more protective. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF of 30 or higher at all times. An SPF of 30 is shown to absorb 97% of UVB radiation. Proper application is vital to maintain the SPF. An average adult needs at least 1 oz (30ml or 6 tsp) per application. It’s been found that most people don’t use enough. Using only half this amount of SPF 30 is the equivalent to applying SPF 10.
Lastly, we should take a look at the ingredients. The only ingredients that provide adequate coverage against UVA1 are Avobenzone, Zinc oxide, or Titanium dioxide. It is important to ensure one of these is present in your sunscreen choice.
Sunscreen does not last all day. You should reapply every 2 hours at a minimum. This should be done more often when swimming.
Don’t forget about commonly missed areas: scalp, ears, feet, neck.
A few notes on kids:
Sunscreen should be avoided in all infants less than 6 months of age. Sun avoidance and protective garments are the preferred method in this age group.
Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are the preferred ingredients for children (compared to Avobenzone) as these ingredients are less irritating and offer less potential for skin penetration.
Get outside safely this summer and protect your skin for decades to come!
