It seems this time of the year sunscreen is on everyone’s mind. Patients, friends, and most recently CNN have been asking me questions. See the link to the CNN article here:
Dr. Kuritzky interviewed by CNN
I will keep this simple, because it really is so. Here’s what you need to know:
- Never burn, try not to tan- there is no tan without sun damage (read: wrinkles, skin cancer). That is a fact.
- Spray on tans and tanning creams are safe, but don’t protect you from the sun- use sun protection also.
- Sunscreen is only PART of your sun protection strategy: start with clothing, a hat, and sunglasses.
- Choosing your sunscreen: minimum requirements:
- SPF 30 is the absolute minimum. I can’t believe they still make SPF 15. If you can find a higher SPF product that you like- go for it, the higher the better- the higher the SPF, the more UV rays are blocked
- Look for the terms “broad spectrum” and “UVA and UVB”. SPF only tells you how well the product blocks UVB, but UVA is just as important.
- Apply lots. I mean LOTS! Studies show most of us apply 1/4 to 1/3 the amount they use in the lab- so we are getting only 1/4 to 1/3 of the SPF. This is why the higher the SPF the better.
- Enjoy the sun safely! This isn’t about hiding from the sun or living an inactive life. I take my family to the beach, and we spend a lot of time outside- we do it with hats, sunglasses (very important for kids!), and lots of sunscreen.
- What is the best sunscreen? Within reason, I believe you get what you pay for- the higher end drugstore brands are worth it. Truth be told, the best sunscreen is the one you are willing to use. The photo above is a selection of products lying around my house if you need to know brand names 😉
Happy summer everyone!