Suncare 101. Everything you need to know about sun protection and prevention!

Ahhhh. Summer. What we long for all winter long. That "healthy" sun-kissed glow to mask our ghostly, vampire-esque appearance we've been hiding, behind chunky scarves and sweaters. Ever since fashion and beauty icon Coco Chanel, accidentally caught too much sun on a vacation in the 1920's, sunbathing became a popular beauty ritual that is still consuming our culture today. Shows like the Jersey Shore have glorified tanning beds and spray tans and it has become a part of our daily routine as much as brushing our teeth. But cases of melanoma have tripled in the past 35 years. Which raises the question, are we being misinformed or are we putting more emphasis on appearance than health? It's hard to say. 

Clients are rushing to spas all over to rid themselves of their sun damaged, sagging, and pigmented skin. But haven't made the effort to seek a Doctor for a routine skin cancer screening in years, if at all. So, how do we as skin care specialists and one of the first lines of defense next to a dermatologist, make it known to our clients how serious sun exposure can be when not taking the correct precautions? Well, for starters, we can educate you as much as we can and hope that it will register. 

So let's begin by first understanding that sunscreen is not solely a skin cancer prevention. Although, using sunscreen correctly helps reduce your risk it is still not 100% effective in preventing skin cancer. Avoiding direct sun especially from the hours of 10:00am-3:00pm is another measure in preventing your risk. 

But let's focus on sunscreen and the importance of knowing which sunscreen is right for you, how to apply it correctly and how often. Sunscreen should be worn every single day, rain or shine. It should be applied in lotion form NOT spray form and 1 ounce (the amount of a shot glass) should be reapplied every 2 hours, regardless of it's claims for water and sweat resistance. Spray sunscreens seem awfully convenient and useful but it's not easy to measure the amount of sun protection that is covering your skin. Most of it is being absorbed into the air and not to mention the inhalation effects it could be having on your lungs. Body lotions, makeup and moisturizers with SPF are NOT enough sun protection when being exposed to sun directly or for long periods of time. Broad spectrum sunscreens are extremely important! Blocking out both UVA (what's responsible for aging) and UVB (what is most often the cause of skin cancer and sunburns). 

Did you know there are actually two different types of sunscreen? There are physical (mineral) and Chemical sunscreens, but not all are right for everyones skin conditions or skin type. 

Physical vs. Chemical Sunscreen: Physical sunscreen is often referred to as mineral sunscreen. Includes ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These active mineral ingredients are known for deflecting damaging UV rays away from the skin. It is naturally a broad spectrum sunscreen and is used on people with sensitive skin especially when prone to irritation from heat. Mineral sunscreen has the ability to block heat and energy from the sun away from the skin. It is less likely to clog your pores and a very good choice for those who suffer from melasma or hyperpigmentation since the heat of the sun can actually worsen the condition.  

Chemical Sunscreen- uses active ingredients oxtinoxate, oxybenzone, and octisalate which are organic carbon based compounds that are known as chemical ingredients due to its chemical reaction on the skin, creating heat from the UV rays and releasing it from the skin. Chemical sunscreens take longer to absorb then physical ones which means they should be applied 20 minutes prior to going into the sun. it is not suitable for sensitive skin, those with pigment issues, or rosacea. 

SPF WHAT? Ever stare aimlessly as the sunscreen aisle and become overwhelmed by the SPF ratings or numbers and which one is actually supposed to protect you? Most people think, the higher the better. SPF 100 is perfect, I won't have to reapply all day. WRONG. Despite our common misconceptions, anything over SPF 50 is not giving you any more significant coverage or protection. SPF 70 is only slightly more coverage then SPF 50 and so on. The number is misleading to many. Most people think the higher the number the longer the coverage but that is not exactly what the number actually stands for. For example, let's say we are using an SPF 30. If it takes you 10 minutes to burn without sunscreen and 300 minutes to burn while wearing a sunscreen then you would divide 300/10 and you would get an SPF of 30. Which essentially means you are getting 300 minutes of protection before you burn. But this DOES NOT mean that you shouldn't continue to reapply every 2 hours. This is the biggest mistake we make when it comes to sun protection. We give our sunscreen too much credit by thinking it is protecting us way longer then it is. So reapply. reapply. reapply. 

Other Essentials: Besides the obvious sunscreen precautions stated above, wearing protective gear such as wide brimmed hats, lightly colored clothing and UV protective eyewear is crucial to providing protection from the sun. 

Expired Sunscreen: Ever notice that your moisturizer with SPF has an expiration date and your regular sunscreens? Well, it's for good reason. They actually do lose their effectiveness, so toss those sunscreens when they expire or you can be doing yourself a disservice. 

I provide both chemical and physical sunscreens to my clients as well as tinted SPF and SPF that contains both chemical and physical ingredients. I have sunscreen that is perfect for every skin condition and skin type, so if you are struggling with knowing which option works best for you, please contact me for a skin consult.