Spending Time Outdoors? Select Safe Sun Protection

Do you love spending time in the sun? It’s important that all of us do because sunlight as it helps kill bacteria, elevate your mood, lower stress and produce vitamin D, which strengthen bones, supports the immune system and improves sleep. Studies suggest that vitamin D supplements are not as effective as vitamin D from sun exposure.

But here’s the caveat: You only need between 10 and 15 minutes of midday sun, several times per week. Regularly spending too much time in the sun can damage eyes, cause premature skin aging and raise your risk for skin cancer, the most common type of cancer.  

You may find it strange to think about exposure in the spring. But it’s not just a summer topic. We often forget that we get a lot of sun exposure during colder months. Sunlight can burn and damage your skin throughout the year. And you’re more vulnerable to damage if you’re at a high altitude or on a reflective surface like snow or ice. This means you’re at risk for sunburns when you ski, ice skate and sled. Even shoveling driveways or salting walkways while it’s sunny may be problematic.

This is why you should protect yourself from the sun all year long. This includes spending time in the shade while outdoors, wearing hats and UV protection clothing and/or applying sun lotion. In fact, public health experts generally recommend wearing sunscreen or sunblock every day, even when it’s cloudy.

Sun Lotions

There are two basic types of sun lotion – sunblock and sunscreen. Here’s the difference between the two.

Sunblock (also known as mineral sunscreen) is considered physical sun protection because it sits on the skin, reflecting sun rays. The consistency is thicker than sunscreen and often leaves a white residue. If you have sensitive skin, you might find sunblock more tolerable.  

Whereas, sunscreen, (commonly referred to as chemical sunscreen) uses chemicals to filter out most sun rays (although some still get through). Sunscreen is more popular than sunblock because it’s thinner, easier to apply and doesn’t leave a residue. Unfortunately, sunscreens also are known for irritating sensitive skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) doesn’t recommend one type of sun lotion over the other. Instead, they recommend focusing on SPF level, dosage and ingredient safety. Let’s take a closer look at these variables.

SPF Level

SPF stands for sun protection level, and it’s used to gauge how well a sun lotion can block UVB rays. The sun emits a spectrum of light that includes three types of ultraviolet (UV) rays.  

• Ultraviolet A (or UVA) – reach the Earth and over exposure can lead to skin damage like wrinkles and premature aging, and vision conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.  
• Ultraviolet B (or UVB) – reach the Earth and over exposure raises the risk for skin cancers, cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Ultraviolet C (or UVC) – don’t reach the Earth but still has ties to cataracts and macular degeneration.

The number or level of SPF indicates how much time it will take for the sun to burn your skin. For example, an SPF of 30 will give you 30x longer protection compared to not wearing sun lotion. This level is good for daily use and will block out about 97 percent of UV rays. If you used a product with an SPF of 50, you’ll get about 98 percent protection. You may want to use this level if you’re spending time outdoors. It might not be worth investing in products with SPF levels higher than 50. There’s a misconception that products with a very high SPF number provide substantially more protection than those with lower numbers, when in fact, protection beyond SPF 30, only improves marginally. If you have questions, talk to your doctor. They may want you using an SPF higher than 50 if you’re at high risk for or have a history of skin cancer. Lastly, SPF degrades over time. Experts recommend checking the expiration date of your sun protection product. Generally, it’s three years. The remaining portion of an expired product should be thrown out.    

Dosage

Make sure you apply lotion generously to all exposed areas of your body about 15 minutes before going into the sun. Reapply lotion every couple of hours and if it washes off from swimming or sweating.  

Ingredients

Here are the typical active ingredients for sunblock and sunscreen.

Sunblock works by combining two naturally occurring minerals – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Per the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) these ingredients as generally recognized as safe and effective or GRASE. These minerals sit on your skin, creating a barrier that reflects sun rays. Zinc oxide protects against UVA rays, while titanium dioxide blocks UVB rays. Look for products that combine these minerals to provide broad-spectrum protection.  

Sunscreens rely on chemicals to filter out rays; these often include:  

• Oxybenzone (also known as benzophenone-3) is a hormone disruptor.  
• Avobenzone is a benzophenone.
• Octisalate (also known as octyl methoxycinnate) is a hormone and endocrine disruptor.
• Octocrylene can affect estrogen levels and have endocrine-disrupting properties. Concentrations up to 10 percent are considered safe.
• Homosalate is a hormone disruptor.
• Octinoxate stabilizes avobenzon

The FDA doesn’t deem these chemicals as GRASE. Moreover, they’re absorbed into your skin and enter the bloodstream. Studies have found that a single application of sunscreen raises blood concentrations of chemicals like oxybenzone 180 times beyond the FDA’s level of concern and levels rose to more than 500 times beyond the level of FDA concerned after four days of use. Chemicals have been detected on skin and blood weeks after last use. Studies conducted by the FDA detected these chemicals on the skin and in the blood weeks after they had last been used. These findings led to the FDA decision to begin animal testing sunscreen active ingredients.      

If you’re childbearing age, you may want to stick with sunblock until the FDA releases more information. Sunscreen chemicals also have been found in breast milk, according to a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology.  

Hybrid products are available. These products contain both mineral and chemical ingredients and offer the benefits of each type of protection.  

You’ll also find alcohol in sun protective products. It’s used because it helps lighten the lotion, helping it dry quicker. But it’s very drying on your skin and it’s flammable and shouldn’t be used around heat.  

Common Label Terminology

Manufacturers try improving their formularies by adding ingredients that provide additional benefits, such as these:  

• Sport products remain on your skin between 40 and 80 minutes while sweating, playing sports or swimming without the SPF wearing off. However, the FDA hasn’t defined this term for use in sun lotion products.
• Water resistant products remain effective for 40 minutes in the water. Products must be tested and approved before using this term. In the past, manufacturers used the term waterproof. But it’s impossible for a product to be completely waterproof, leading to the FDA banning the use of this term.  
• Sensitive skin limits the active ingredients to titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These products are hypoallergenic and don’t have any fragrance, oils or PABA, which are possible skin irritants.
• Broad spectrum refers to products that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.  
• Insect repellent products contain both SPF and an insect repellant. However, the AAD does not recommend buying these products because their instructions contradict one another. Sunscreen should be applied liberally and often, while insect repellent should be used sparingly and only when needed. It’s better to use two separate products.  
• Baby these products limit the active ingredients to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, as they’re less likely to irritate a baby’s skin. However, the FDA has not defined this term for sunscreen.

Don’t Forget About…

While in the sun, don’t forget about other sun protection tactics, such as wearing:

• Tightly woven long sleeved tops and pants. You may want to invest in clothing that made with ultraviolet protection factor or UPF.  
• Wide brimmed hats.
• UV protection sunglasses.
• Sun protection lip balm and sunscreen on ears and nose.

It’s also best to discuss products, even sunscreen with your doctor. Many doctors recommend wearing a water-resistant, broad-spectrum mineral sunblock without alcohol that has an SPF of at least 30. Continue reading for more information on sunscreen >>