LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

Sun protection is trickier than it seems. It’s not as simple as slathering on any old sunscreen you find in the back of your medicine cabinet. Sunscreen products come in a vast array of sizes, shapes and SPF’s. There are broad spectrum, waterproof, water resistant, sweat proof, hypoallergenic, and the list goes on. It all can be a tad confusing.

However, armed with a better understanding of sun protection products and application standards, you will be better prepared to guard your skin against skin cancer, and other photo-aging skin issues. So how do you protect yourself and your loved ones from the ravages of the sun? Let’s start with the basics.

Not all sunscreens are created equal

Only around one in five women wear sunscreen on a daily basis; and even if you are one of the few, you may still not be getting sufficient protection.

One of the biggest misconceptions about sunscreen is that the higher the SPF the more protection they offer. Grab a sunscreen with SPF 50 and you’re good for the day. This is not true and may lull people into a false sense of security. SPF factors have a law of diminishing returns. In fact, according to a report published June 2011 in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, most experts agree that after SPF 30, the additional protection is negligible, estimated to be only 1 or 2% higher.

Although SPF ratings are important, the new magic word you should always look for is broad-spectrum. There are two kinds of solar rays: short ones called UVB that cause redness, burning and with prolonged exposure, skin cancer, and long ones called UVA that cause skin cancer and photo-aging of the skin. Broad spectrum means that the product is offering protection against both the short UVB rays and the long UVA rays.

Without broad-spectrum, you’re only being protected from UVB rays. Sunscreens that aren’t broad-spectrum protect against sunburns, but not the dangerous UVA rays that penetrate deep into the skin, some research cites rays penetrating as deep as the subcutaneous fat level, and can cause skin cancer and premature aging.

SPF level doesn't offer insights into UVA protection. Product manufacturers have never before been required to provide labeling information regarding UVA protection. To get the broad spectrum claim, manufacturers will have to show that the amount of UVA protection proportionally increases as the SPF level increases. The product will also need to be SPF 15 or higher.

FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation has mulled over how best to test for UVA protection since 1978. "We were having difficulty arriving scientifically at a standard test method that everyone could use and a way to relay that to the consumers in a way that would be effective," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation. Beginning in June 2012, new sunscreen labels will include a label to show for the first time, how well the product protects users against cancer-causing UVA.

A shot glass a day = 1 ounce

You’d be surprised at how much sunscreen you need to apply to your exposed skin every day. The dermatologist’s rule of thumb is one full shot glass, equivalent to 1 ounce, is needed to cover the exposed areas of the body. Adjust the amount of sunscreen applied depending on your body size. Most people only apply 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. If you are using the recommended amount of sunscreen every day, a bottle should not last you beyond its expiration date. But, sunscreen does lose its efficacy with time, so be sure to always check the expiration date before applying.

The two-hour rule

No sunscreen, waterproof or not, protects your skin all day. Even if you’re on dry land, sunscreen’s protection fades. The general rule is to reapply every two hours, more often if you’re in the water or exercising. Additionally, experts recommend applying your sunscreen to dry skin at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure to allow the product to penetrate and bind with the skin.

Wear more than makeup with SPF

By now, it’s clear how important it is to protect your skin from the sun, especially the delicate area of the face, hands and décolleté, which can show signs of photo-aging more quickly than other areas. But how do you add a sunscreen into your makeup routine for the best protection?

A broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 should be applied to clean, dry skin, before any other facial product, according to Dr. Neal Shultz, with DermTV.com. An average adult requires ¼ a teaspoon to cover the face. Allow the product to soak into the skin and then apply the rest of your makeup.

Many foundations and moisturizers on the market now have SPF protection. This is a great extra layer of protection when worn with an additional sunscreen. The majority of makeup products with SPF, are not broad spectrum and will not protect you from the highly damaging UVA rays.

SPF numbers do not add up. If your foundation has an SPF of 15 and you apply a sunscreen with SPF 15, you still only have protection of an SPF 15. That is why it is crucial to ensure that the first layer of protection that goes on your skin is a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

To top off your makeup routine, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying compressed powder with a sponge because the powder's particles provide some sun protection, and powder will help keep sunscreen and moisturizer in place.

Finally, do not forget the sensitive area of the lips. Avoid using opaque high gloss lipstick with little pigmentation. Dr. Christine Brown, a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, reports that shiny lip balms and glosses actually attract the sun's ultraviolet rays to the lips, which can increase your risk of skin cancer. Dr. Brown says you actually increase the light penetration through the lip surface by applying lip balm or gloss to your lips.

Protecting your lips from the sun is as important as protecting your skin. Dr. Brown recommends applying a base of lip sun block of SPF 30 under lipsticks or lip glosses. For extended exposure, you should continue to reapply the sun block to your lips.

Seek additional protection

Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible. Ordinary clothing provides limited sun shield when dry (the tighter the weave, the better) but little or no protection when wet. Special sun-protective clothing is a wise investment for those who accumulate everyday sun exposure and spend excessive time out doors. You can purchase our beautiful sun protective apparel here.

Math Time

Let’s compare a few numbers: The average size sunscreen is 8 oz. To use the dermatologist recommended dosage you will apply 1oz, twice daily. At this use rate, your bottle will last 4 days, or you will be using 7.5 bottles a month. The average cost of sunscreen is $10. $10 x 7.5 bottles = $75 a month. $75 dollars a month x 12 months = $900 a year on sunscreen! Yikes! Someone pass me the sun protective clothing please!

It ALL counts!

Remember that all time outdoors matters towards cumulative sun exposure. As the Skin Cancer Foundation says, "every days exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damage dose of the sun".

Take into consideration activities such as driving to work every day, walking to and from your car, home, office, etc that could result in a 1/2 hour of "exposure" per day. Adding this up over the course of a working year, assuming 50 weeks of work, one accrues about 125hours of UV exposure.

Every second, minute, hour, you spend exposed to UVA and UVB rays count towards the damage being done under and on the surface of your skin.

UVA rays penetrate clouds and even tinted glass, so unless you are protected, you are never safe from their assault. "In the western world, drivers and passengers spend a significant part of their lives in cars. In Europe, the figure is 274 hours per person a year, while in the US it is 541 hours a year. Sources: Commerzbank; Roland Berger report"

That’s an additional 541 hours of potential sun exposure and damage. Now, add in the cumulative every day exposure and the average person spends 666 hours exposed to UVA/UVB rays! That’s more than enough reason for all of us to be reaching for our favorite UV protective clothing and bottle of SPF 30, broad spectrum, sunscreen.

"For a long time, the public has needed a clear message about the effectiveness of sunscreen," said Dr. Ronald Moy, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. "Ultraviolet exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer."

Authors: Mitzi Runyan and Catherine McGrath

Sources: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798 http://www.dermtv.com/how-often-reapply-sunscreen-makeup http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/sunscreen-and-your-makeup-routine?page=2 http://voices.yahoo.com/lip-glosses-balms-may-increase-risk-skin-1419857.html?cat=69 http://specials.ft.com/ftit/june2001/FT3A72I0JNC.html http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SkinCare/sunscreen-stricter-labeling-protect-cancer-causing-uva-light/story?id=13835798&page=2

Planning a beach vacation this winter? Travelers should be aware that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun plays a significant role in the development of skin cancer. In fact, about 86 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV rays.

Skin cancer risk depends greatly on cumulative lifetime sun exposure, but melanoma has been linked most frequently to intense exposure - the kind often obtained during beach vacations. This kind of periodic, concentrated UV exposure frequently causes sunburn, and severely damages the skin. It is believed to also play a part in basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. On average, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns.

"It's important to properly protect your skin every day, and you need to be extra cautious in very sunny conditions," said Dr. Perry Robins, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Prolonged exposure to UV radiation causes premature skin aging and can lead to skin cancer."

Those tempted to get a "base tan" before hitting the beach should beware: There's no such thing as a healthy or protective tan. Whether obtained by lying out in the sun or through using a tanning bed, a tan represents DNA damage to the skin. In fact, just one indoor tanning session before the age of 35 increases your melanoma risk by 75 percent.

If you're headed to a sunny destination this winter, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following sun protection tips:

• Cover Up: Clothing is your first line of defense against the sun's harmful UV rays, and it is a consistent shield that helps protect the skin. In addition, wearing UV-absorbing swimwear like wetsuits and rash guards offers extra UV protection when you're in the water. Sarongs and cover-ups offer additional protection on shore.
• Shield Your Face: Sunglasses that filter out the sun's UV rays will help protect your eyes and eyelids from conditions including cataracts, while a broad-brimmed hat (with at least a 3-inch brim all around) will help protect the top of the head, neck, face, ears and scalp.
• Beware of Reflection: Water and sand reflect the sun's UV rays, adding to the intensity of exposure.
• Apply Sunscreen: Using a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day is crucial. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply one ounce, or two tablespoons, every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating heavily.
• Seek Shade: During peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), keep covered under a large sun umbrella. It's best to hit the beach early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You'll avoid the crowds and save your skin.
• Avoid Tanning and UV Tanning Booths: Whether you "lay out" or visit a tanning salon, there is no such thing as a safe tan. Tanning increases the risk of developing skin cancers, including melanoma. In addition, tanning leads to premature skin aging, including wrinkles, leathery skin and age spots.

Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin causing premature skin aging, skin cancer, and a host of skin changes. Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging.

We often associate a glowing complexion with good health, but skin color obtained from being in the sun – or in a tanning booth – actually accelerates the effects of aging and increases your risk for developing skin cancer.

Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers breakdown, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching.  

True or False?

• Long amounts of UV light exposure cause the breakdown of the elastin and collagen in our skin and contribute to premature aging issues, such as, wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation. (True)
• UVA rays are rarely the cause of skin cancer and wrinkling. (False)
• UVB rays do not cause sunburns and freckling. (False)
• SPF refers only to the protection level from sunburns, meaning that a lot of sunscreens only protect your skin from UVB rays, not UVA. (True)
• The term BROAD SPECTRUM refers to a sunscreen offering protection from both UVA and UVB rays. (True)
• There is no need to wear both sunscreen and protective clothing when out in the sun. (False)
• You do not need to wear sunscreen on cloudy days. (False)
• If you have dark skin that rarely or never burns, your skin isn’t getting damaged and you don’t need sun protection. (False)
• UV protection is the only beauty product that can honestly claim it prevents wrinkles, photo-aging, and other side effects of premature aging. (True)
• Chemical sunscreens take around 25 minutes to work, while physical protection, like sun protective clothing or physical barrier sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), take effect immediately. (True)
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can prevent scalp sunburns and your hair color from fading. (True)

Beauty by the Numbers

• The average woman spends $50,000 on her hair in her lifetime.
• Women who color their hair spend an average of $330 a year.
• The average woman spends $15,000 on makeup in her lifetime.
• The average woman spends 20 minutes doing her makeup each day, equivalent to 330 days in her lifetime.
• 10% of Americans spend an average of $300 a year on indoor tanning.
• Each year, women spend a total of $9 billion on tanning and $3 billion on tanning products.
• In 2009, Americans spend $10 billion on cosmetic surgery. 85% of those procedures were non-surgical, like Botox.
• 98% of women 25-54 years of age who visit a dermatologist or plastic surgeon spend up to $500 a year on facial procedures.
• Americans spend around $12 billion annually on anti-aging products.
• According to Business Wire, in 2003: total US market for tanning is over $9 billion per year, and does not include the $3 billion tanning products market.

Regardless of your skin tone, sun damage can cause skin cancer and older, damaged looking skin. Even darker skin is susceptible to hyper-pigmentation, wrinkles and sun spots, making skin look uneven.

The most efficient, effective and economical way to preserve your beauty is spend your dollars and time protecting your skin and hair from the ravages of the sun rather than spending money on costly beauty treatments to correct and cover up the damage.