Sunscreen

As an Aesthetician I continually speak with my clients about the importance of Sunscreen and how it’s the easiest way to keep your skin beautiful, prevent premature aging and most importantly skin cancer. I often hear from people that they’re not in the sun too often, just running errands, not laying outside or that it’s cloudy so I don’t need to worry. However UV rays are present every day, so Summer and sunny days are not the only time you are at risk from sun damage. It’s important to wear sunscreen during every season, even on a cloudy day. Prolonged unprotected sun exposure causes photo-aging; which is damage to the deeper layers of the skin contributing to the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Signs of photo-aging are hyperpigmentation (brown spots), sagging skin, wrinkles, broken blood vessels and rough texture skin. I know most of us enjoy having a sunny glow, but there are many fabulous bronzers out there that will do the trick. Plus, when you see yourself 10 years from now you’ll be glad you did!

Sun Science

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the ratio of the minimum amount of ultraviolet rays required to cause redness with a sunscreen to the amount required without sunscreen. For example, if it takes 30 minutes for your skin to become sunburned without sunscreen, then a sunscreen that has a rating of SPF 15 would allow you to stay in the sun for 15 times longer before becoming burned. Both UVB and UVA rays contribute to sun damage and skin cancer. The UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and they’re stronger in the summer and most intense from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The UVA rays can travel through window glass; therefore even if you are in the office all day, driving or just running errands outside it’s still important to protect your skin.

The Evolution of Sunscreen

To help demystify sunscreen it can be classified into two categories: chemical sunscreen and physical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens function by absorbing UV Rays, while physical sunscreens act by reflecting them. When sunscreen first came out, only physical (mineral) sunscreens were available. Physical sunscreen contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and do a great job of protecting the skin, but it ultimately wasn’t desirable on a cosmetic level because of the white film it left on the skin. It also caused pore congestion in oilier skin types and people found them too heavy especially during warmer weather and outdoor activities. Thankfully sunscreens have evolved and offer a much lighter more appealing texture, without the white film.

Concerns about Sunscreen Ingredients

Chemical sunscreens have come under scrutiny because of some of the ingredients, namely Avobenzone and Oxybenzone, which may interfere with hormones and increase the production of free radicals. Another concern is the inhalation risk of nanoparticles of the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in some spray-on sunscreens. Even though the FDA has approved the use of nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics, I think it’s a good idea to avoid them.

Guidelines for Sun Protection

Apply Sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside.
Try to avoid outdoor activities during peak sun exposure time from 10am-4pm.
If you are exercising outside, try to find a shady area and use a hat.
Reapply sunscreen every 40-90 minutes (depending on how much you’re perspiring) on dry skin (so bring a towel to your outdoor exercise session).
Be sure to cover common missed spots such as: lips (use a lip balm with an SPF), ears, around eyes, neck, hairline, scalp if hair is thinning or bald, hands and feet
Make sure you protect your eyes with sun glasses, you can also try a sun umbrella
Always apply Sunscreen before your makeup. If your makeup has an SPF it’s still important to apply an additional Sunscreen first because we can miss many spots with makeup only.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
SPF 15 blocks approximately 93% of UV rays, SPF 30 blocks about 97% and SPF 50 about 98%
After SPF 50 there really is no difference as no sunscreen can block 100% of UV rays.
For more information visit skincancer.org
Sun care products for Adults and Teens: Glo Skin Beauty Oil Free SPF 40