Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

By:   Leslie Pepper
15, 30, 60, 80, broad spectrum, SPF, UVA, UVB… all these terms are enough to drive anyone crazy! What do they all mean?
Minerva Place got the 411 from Bruce A. Brod, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
What exactly does SPF mean?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which is the amount of time you’re protected against sunburn. For example, if you normally burn within one minute of being in the sun, if you use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, you’ll have 15 times longer in the sun (or 15 minutes) before you burn. Remember, though, SPF only refers to UVB rays.
UVB rays? What’s that?
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun. UVB rays only reach the top layers of skin, and they’re the ones that are primarily responsible for sunburn.
However, there’s another kind of ray, the most common kind of sunlight at the earth’s surface, which reaches beyond the top layer of skin, called UVA. Those rays actually penetrate deep into the base layer of the skin and may have more of an effect on collagen and elastin, and therefore may lead to even more wrinkling and an overall more aged skin appearance.
Is higher better when it comes to SPF?
Yes and no. Higher is better, although the absolute numbers are misleading.
An SPF of 30 may be 97 percent effective, but an SPF 60 won’t give you double the amount of protection. In fact, the FDA has said that there is no evidence that an SPF over 50 provides any additional benefits.
I’m seeing “broad spectrum” on sunscreen labels these days. What does that mean?
This year the FDA introduced new sunscreen guidelines that provide you with more information about what type of UV protection a sunscreen offers and what a sunscreen can do.
Now, if a sunscreen says it’s broad spectrum, it means that the product has proven to the FDA that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
In order to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, the sunscreen must have broad-spectrum protection and an SPF of 15 or higher. Without both, the sunscreen only helps prevent sunburn.



How often do I need to reapply?
At least every two hours, more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
Keep in mind that no sunscreen is waterproof or sweat-proof. With the new FDA labeling laws, sunscreens are only allowed to say they’re “water resistant,” and they must give the length of time the water resistance lasts. If you don’t see that on the bottle, the product isn’t water resistant.
And it ‘s critical you put on enough sunscreen! Most people only apply 15 to 50 percent of the recommended amount. A study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that applying less than two ounces over the body at one time can leave people with an SPF rating far lower than what’s on the bottle. Two ounces looks about like two golf balls.
There are so many different ingredients on the back of the sunscreen bottle. What should I look for? 
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are both physical blocks, which means they protect you by reflecting the sun. I like these, as they usually don’t cause any skin irritation, and new nanotechnology allows them to rub in better and appear less white on the skin than the oxides of old (think white-nosed-lifeguards).
Avobenzone (brand name: Parsol 1789) is a chemical block that protects you by absorbing the sun. Unfortunately, avobenzone breaks down in the sun, so if you’re in direct sun you should apply it even more often than every two hours. Neutrogena has patented a more stabilized form of avobenzone known as Helioplex, which lasts longer in the sun. Another new chemical UVA blocker is called ecamsule (brand name: Mexoryl) which is very stable in the sun. If you do choose a chemical block, apply it to dry skin 30 minutes before you go outside for maximum effectiveness.
Do I always have to use a sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy?Yes. 80 percent of sunlight comes through even on a cloudy day. Many people get burned on cloudy days because they don’t feel the heat, so they don’t realize how strong the sun actually is.
I’ve heard that studies have found sunscreens are dangerous and can cause cancer 
I disagree wholeheartedly. One group reported a study they’d done that found that retinyl palmitate — one ingredient in sunscreen — caused skin cancer in mice. That study was flawed for several reasons. First, the skin of mice is much different than that of humans, and mice are more susceptible to skin cancer. Plus, retinyl palmitate is a derivative of Vitamin A, which has actually been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
The benefits of sunscreen have been shown to prevent skin cancer in millions of people for the past quarter of a century.


Leslie Pepper

Leslie Pepper is a freelance writer based in Merrick, NY who specializes in diet and health. Her work has been published in print magazines such as Real Simple, Woman’s Day, and Parents, as well as online publications such as WebMD.com and Everydayhealth.com.