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 When summer rolls in, many people’s favorite activity is to roll out the lawn chair and soak in the much needed warmth and the rays of that fabulous sun. After all, it’s been a long, cold winter, right? And the sun’s rays make us feel good, look good, and keep wanting more. Wrong. Many people often associate a beautiful, sun-kissed, glowing complexion with the ideal good health, but that’s not the case. The darkening skin color obtained by the sun can cause most of the wrinkles and age spots on our face, accelerate the effects of aging, and increase our risk for developing skin cancer.
According to the University of California, San Francisco, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed today. This year, there will be more than one million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States alone.
About 80% of these cases will be basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas usually occur on sun-exposed skin on the face, ears, neck and trunk. It may also occur in the arms or legs.
16% of these cases will be squamous cell carcinoma, which is the second most common type of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas occur most frequently on the head, neck, ears, lips, back of the hands, and forearms.
And about 4% of these cases will be melanoma, which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Even though it affects such a small percentage of people, it still causes about 77% of skin cancer deaths each year.
 Sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do a wonderful job in helping to prevent the sun’s ultra violet rays from reaching the skin. By preventing UV rays from reaching the skin, you can lower your skin’s risk of wrinkling, leathering, and sagging, as well as decrease your risk of skin cancer.
But the trouble comes when you walk into your local pharmacy or grocery store to pick up a bottle of sunblock. With all the different SPF’s, brands, skin types, some with bug repellents, colors, scents, oils, sprays, sticks, gels, and lotions to choose from, picking the right sunblock can become a disastrous and stressful affair.
 Even though the best sunblock varies from individual to individual, you should always look for a broad spectrum sunblock with UVA and UVB protection, with a SPF rating of at least 30. Then you have to decide if you want a chemical sunblock or a physical sunblock.
Chemical sunblocks are made up of various active ingredients because there is not one single ingredient that blocks the entire UV spectrum. Basically, a chemical sunblock combines several chemicals that each block a different region of UV light. Chemical sunblocks work by absorbing the energy of UV radiation before it affects your skin.
Physical sunblocks reflect or scatter UV radiation before it reaches your skin. There are two types of physical sunblocks available: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Physical sunblocks are great for people who have sensitive skin, and are gentle enough for everyday use, because they are physical blocking agents and not chemicals. Physical sunblocks very rarely cause skin irritation.
It doesn’t matter what form your sunblock comes in, but generally, spray lotions and gels are the least oily. On the downside, they wash off more easily so they need to be re-applied more often.
You should apply your sunblock 15-30 minutes before going into the sun to allow its’ protective film to develop. And the rule of thumb is that sunblock should always be reapplied after water contact or sweating, as well as about every two hours for maximum protection.
The American Academy of Dermatology says that sunblock should be applied liberally to all parts of your body which are going to be exposed to sunlight. And be sure to cover your neck, ears, and top and bottom of feet. These places are easily overlooked and can cause painful sunburns.
Remember to check the expiration date on your sunblock bottle. The AAD, as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requires that sunblock work at its capacity for three years. If you have a three year old bottle of sunscreen left, then you haven’t been using the proper amount!
Although your skin can sometimes repair itself, there is nothing you can completely do to undo any skin damage you may already have. But, it’s never too late to start protecting yourself from the sun, so take precautions when in the sun and have healthy skin and a healthy you!
Common Myths…
…explained by the Skin Cancer Foundation
Wearing sunscreen can cause vitamin D deficiency.
There is some controversy regarding this issue, but few dermatologists believe (and no studies have shown) that sunscreens cause vitamin D deficiency. Also, vitamin D is available in dietary supplements and foods such as salmon and eggs, as well as enriched milk and orange juice.
If it's cold or cloudy outside, you don't need sunscreen.
This is not true. Up to 40 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day. This misperception often leads to the most serious sunburns, because people spend all day outdoors with no protection from the sun.
80 percent of your sun exposure comes as a child, so it's too late to do anything now.
It appears that this universally promoted idea was based largely on a misinterpretation. A recent multi-center study showed that we get less than 25 percent of our total sun exposure by age 18. In fact, it is men over the age of 40 who spend the most time outdoors, and get the highest annual doses of UV rays. And since adult Americans are living longer and spending more leisure time outdoors, preventing ongoing skin damage will continue to be an important part of a healthy lifestyle. |
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