Finding the Right Sunscreen

The first step in finding and choosing the sunscreen that is best for you is to choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. That is, the better the sunscreen, the stronger its ability to provide you with a high degree of protection against sunburn, skin aging and skin cancer. A good place to start is the internet. Do a thorough search about the best sunscreens. Read articles and consumer reports. Ask your friends and family what works for them. Check with your dermatologist.The next step is to find out your skin phototype (skin type) or SPT. This is a system of classification based on a person’s sensitivity to the sun. For example, people with skin types I and II are on the more sensitive part of the scale and therefore at the highest risk for wrinkles or skin cancer. (It should be noted however, that those photoaging effects can occur in any skin type).

The scale runs from SPT I – SPT VI as follows:

Skin type	Typical features	Sunburn susceptibility	Tanning ability	Skin cancer risk
I	Pale light skin, hazel/blue eyes, red/blonde hair	High	None	High
II	Fair skin, blue eyes	High	Poor	High
III	Darker white skin	Moderate	Good	Low
IV	Olive skin	Low	Very good	Low
V	Brown	Very low	Excellent	Very low
VI	Dark brown or black skin	Very low	Excellent	Very low

Once you know your skin type, look for a sunscreen that has an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. If you are at the top of the chart (SPT I, II, III), you will want a sunscreen with a much higher SPF. In addition to giving you information about protection, the SPF can be used to determine how long you can be out in the sun. All you need to know is the UV Index for the day which you would multiply by the SPF of your sunscreen. For example if you know that the UV index is 9, you know you will burn in 15 minutes (or less). If your SPF is 15, you can stay outside 15 x 15 or 225 minutes; divide that number by 60 to get 3.75. That is, you can safely remain in the sun for 3 hours and 45 minutes.

When choosing a sunscreen you should read the label completely and carefully. Make sure you follow any cautions or considerations to the letter. Remember, sunscreens are temporary protection from the sun; they do not give you a license to unconditionally soak up the rays.

Take into consideration your planned activity when choosing your sunscreen. For example, if you will be on a beach by the ocean, you know now that both the sand and the foam on the water are highly reflective and that your exposure to UV rays is increased. Therefore, you will want a sunscreen with a higher SPF and you will want to vigorously watch the time you are exposed to the sun. Furthermore, at the beach you will want to reapply sunscreen after swimming or exercising. However, if your afternoon out will be a walk through a wooded forest, you may need a lower SPF and will only need to reapply as per the result of multiplying the UV index burn time with the SPF of the sunscreen.

Finally, when reading the label of your sunscreen, make sure that it has been sufficiently tested scientifically. Usually the label will indicate its scientific soundness with words like “certified” or “tested” or “studies” or “dermatologists approve”.

How UVA Protection is Measured

SPF is a great gauge for UVB protection, but it gives no information about UVA rays. However, to minimize the signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles or brown spots and to reduce the risk of skin cancer, UVA protection is critical.

While many sunscreens now claim to protect against both UVA and UVB radiation, they often don’t specify the UVA protection strength. (Again, SPF only gives us UVB protection information.) Additionally, detecting UVA damage is not possible unless you have special equipment (such as Wood’s lamp).

SPF measures the speed at which one will burn; as mentioned, UVB rays are the UV rays which can burn the skin. UVA radiation protection has nothing to do with the SPF of sunscreens. To give an indication of the degree of UVA protection offered by a sunscreen product, another measure is being added- that is Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD). PPD measures the amount of UVA rays absorbed by the skin. A sunscreen with a PPD of 15 or higher, for example, should provide good UVA protection. Many sunscreen manufactures do not provide PPD values because the classification of PPD is so new. Some sunscreen products, as mentioned before, offer little or no mention of UVA at all. If you wish to learn more about PPD in your sunscreen, contact the manufacturer. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, it might be a good idea to seek another product.

How to Apply Sunscreen

Before giving you the how-to in applying sunscreen, it’s important to repeat that sunscreens should be part of your comprehensive approach to UV radiation protection, not a miracle sun-damage cure all. That is, before going into the sun it’s important that you consider the more reliable practices of avoiding the sun at peak hours, wearing protective clothing and other considerations that were mentioned before. If you are still determined to get into the sun, here is how you can apply your sunscreen:

1. Choose your Sunscreen
   Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Look on the label and make sure that it blocks UVA rays, which cause wrinkles and brown spots, and UVB rays, which cause sunburn. Make sure the sunscreen is formulated for your skin type and suited to the activity you’re planning. For example, if you plan on swimming or exercising, you will want to seek out waterproof or sweat proof formulas.
2. Look at the clock
   In order to give the sunscreen time to fully absorb, apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you enter the sun.
3. Shake, Squeeze and Rub on
   To make sure the sunscreen’s ingredients are well mixed, shake the bottle well. Next, squeeze about two tablespoons’ worth into your hand. That should be enough to cover your whole body. Rub sunscreen generously onto all the areas of your body that may be exposed to the sun. Some examples include your arms, hands, neck, feet, legs, torso, back, shoulders, and face. You may want to apply sunscreen while you’re naked if you’re going to wear a bathing suit. This way you will be sure not to miss a spot. There are some areas that are easy to miss, like near the edge of a bathing suit, near your eyes, your lips, your ears, and your scalp or the part in your hair. Therefore pay special attention to those areas when applying sunscreen. Ask a friend or a member of the family to apply the sunscreen for you on those harder-to-reach areas, especially your back.
4. Reapply When Needed
   After you’ve been in the sun for two hours—or sooner if you’ve been swimming, sweating, or rubbing against a towel, reapply sunscreen all over.