Skin Care Tips: Using Sunscreen – Why You Should Use a Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a very important aspect of any complete sun protection program. If you don’t protect your skin from sunlight at least some of the time, you are putting yourself at risk for skin cancer survivors. When used properly, sunscreen is known to: Reduce your risk of basal cell cancer and melanoma. Regular use of sunscreen can significantly reduce your lifetime risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by more than 40 percent and reduce your melanoma risk by up to 50 percent. The sunscreens you choose should be free of PABA and benzophenone. PABA is a sunscreen ingredient that can act like a tumor promoter.
Currently the United States FDA proposes to add sunscreen ingredients to food labels. The proposed rule will require the ingredients of sunscreen lotions and other cosmetics to be listed. The cosmetic companies have until July 18 to comply with the new proposed rule. They can also appeal the ruling to the FDA.
There are good news and bad news in regard to the proposed sunscreen rule for food labels. The sunscreen that your sunscreen may contain is not likely to cause you cancer or other skin cancers. However, if you apply sunscreen alone, without any additional sun protection, you are increasing your lifetime risk for skin cancer and other types of cancers caused by the sun. The sun protection factor (SPF) listed on the bottle of any sunscreen will not sufficiently protect you from the sun’s damaging UV rays.
The sunscreen you need most to give you the maximum protective factor is a water-resistant sunscreen with a high SPF. There are many water-resistant sunscreens on the market. Many sunscreens are labeled as water resistant up to 30 minutes sunscreens. Sunscreens with high SPF 30 can easily prevent damage from UV rays by penetrating deeply into the skin. Some water resistant sunscreens are so effective that they will provide protection from UVA and UVB for many hours.
I recommend applying sunscreen to your entire body once every two hours during the summer months and a little more during the winter months. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, even during the winter months, I recommend applying sunscreen to your entire body every day. In addition, in the winter months, especially, I recommend applying sunscreen to the legs, arms, chest, back and shoulders. Even if you spend a lot of time outside during the winter months, you should still spend time protecting your skin during the summer months.
When reading the labels of sunscreen products, be aware of the sunscreen ingredients. The first two or three ingredients should be zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These ingredients are the most important sunscreen ingredients and the healthiest. The rest of the ingredients are not so important. The amount of each ingredient can make a difference in the effectiveness of the sunscreen. For example, the amount of macadamia oil is important.
Macadamia oil will make a huge difference in how well a sunscreen works and how much protection it provides. Sunscreens that do not contain this ingredient are not giving you the protection you need and are not worth using. It has been proven that using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 helps protect from UV rays. Also, it has been shown that using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 helps prevent cancer. Please take all this information with a grain of salt, as many companies will list SPFs on their labels, but have not taken the time to test those labels for safety data.
When shopping for sunscreen, be aware of ingredients and what they can do to your skin. Be sure to talk with a dermatologist before buying any sunscreen, particularly for use around the face. You should not purchase a sunscreen without talking to a dermatologist. Dermatologists have much more experience than non-dermatologists when it comes to sunscreen and skin care. They also know which sunscreen products are best for your particular skin type. Don’t waste your time or money buying sunscreens without getting advice from a dermatologist.
