Sunscreens

 

You’ve heard it before, but it’s really true: Sunscreen is the most important product you can use on your skin every day.

The more damage to your skin cells from sunlight that you can prevent, the better your skin will be for years to come. If you have preteen or teenage children, particularly if you live in a sunny climate, encourage them to start using sunscreen on a daily basis on their faces.

Sunscreens and sun protection are the single best way to prevent prematurely aged skin, sunburns, leathery-looking skin, skin cancers, and the deadly skin cancer, melanoma (in fact, melanoma is the biggest cause of cancer deaths among kids in their twenties).

There are many types of skin, with different colors, textures, oiliness or dryness, and pore size. Here I’ll focus only on the three main skin types: oily, dry, and normal.

How to choose a sunscreen.

Choose a sunscreen based on your skin type, your climate, and the intensity of your sun exposure.

Link to Sunscreen Recommendations

For oily skin, choose a gel, powder, or very light lotion for your sunscreen.

Link to Sunscreens for Oily Skin

For normal skin, chose a lotion or a light cream, and for dry skin, a rich cream.

Link to Sunscreens for Dry Skin

All sunscreens that are creams and lotions have a moisturizing base. Many people don’t need an extra moisturizer in addition to their sunscreen.

Link to Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin 

For example, during the summer in Seattle, when we have about 30 percent humidity, I don’t use a separate moisturizer with my sunscreen. I have a normal skin type with a slightly oily T zone (forehead, nose, and chin). In the winter, however, when the central heating is on all season, then I use a moisturizer underneath my sunscreen.

Understanding SPFs.

Don’t be fooled. The SPF indicates only UVB protection, not UVA. You might, for instance, be wearing an SPF 60 and, regardless of your skin type, still be at risk for skin cancer, wrinkles, and burns from UVA if the sunscreen doesn’t contain a UVA blocker. Nor does the term "broad spectrum" on the bottle guarantee UVA protection, because even if the product contains only a minuscle amount of UVA blocker, it can still bear the label for "broad spectrum" coverage. Sunscreens that have 5 to 10 percnt zinc or titanium or 3 percent Mexoryl are best.

The SPF tells you only how much longer you can be in the sun without burning (For instance, if you would normally burn in 30 minutes with no sunscreen, then an SPF 30 would allow you to be out 15 hours without burning). How many of us are out for 15 hours? So long as you use an SPF 15, what really matters is the quality of the sunscreen ingredients, not the SPF. The higher SPF sunscreens sometimes have better UVA blockers but not always.

Why You Need to Take Vitamin D

What about Vitamin D and sunscreens? Vitamin D is made in our skin in response to sunlight on skin. Vitamin D is critical for bone strength and now, from a recent study, seems to help prevent several different types of cancer. Many of us in northern climates and those of us who use sunscreen don’t get enough. Find out if you have enough with a simple blood test. Ask your doctor to add a 25-OH vitamin D test at your next appointment. You need between 400 and 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), depending on your age and level of nutrition. If you are deficient, your doctor will prescribe more. Vitamin D3 is also found in milk—four glasses will give you most of what you need if you’re not deficient already.

Sunscreens for sports.

Link to Sport Sunscreen Recommendations 

I have also put together sunscreen recommendations for specific sports:

Link to Runners/Cyclists Booster Pack 

Link to Golf/Fishing/Boating Booster Pack 

Link to Water Sports Booster Pack 

Link to High Altitude Sports Booster Pack (hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc) 

This still will not eliminate all the UV damage to your skin cells. The only sunscreen that blocks out every single ray of damaging radiation are those white, opaque zincs that climbers wear on Mount Everest. But most of us can’t wear this kind of sunscreen without looking ridiculous, so it’s not very realistic!

Here are some good daily use sunscreens.  

We link you to SkinCareRx.com for some that I particularly like and are more difficult to find.  You can also take our Skin Care Test to find the right sunscreen for your skin profile.

Link to Sunscreen Recommendations for Everyday Use

Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 30 Brush.  Powder sunscreen for all skin types, but especially for oily skin.  This fabulous invention is in a small compact tube with a self-contained brush.  It stays on well even through sweating and does not aggravate oiliness or acne.  Good also for golfers, tennis players, or fishers who want a non-slippery grip. 

Skin Medica, Environmental Defense Sunscreen 30.  This combines zinc oxide at 8% with a very light, non pore-clogging base.  It's great for normal skin, or, if you are dry, with a moisturizer on under it.  Make-up goes on well over it.

Topix, Replenix Advanced Anti-Photoaging Complex SPF 45.  This is a very moisturizing sunscreen with antioxidants to help repair sun damage.  Great for drier or older skin. 

DermaQuest, Skin Therapy ZinClear SPF 30.  This is good for very sensitive skin.  It is a physical block, and has no sunscreen chemicals other than zinc. 

Fallene CoTZ SPF 58.  Another good mineral-based sunscreen.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX—SPF 15 (U.S.) and 60 (Canada).   Some people find this a bit too creamy, but it can work well for drier skin.

Here are a couple good skinscreens for the eye area:

Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF 15 (also available at salons)

Colorscience My Favorite Eyes Cream Wand (22 percent zinc).

Here are some good sunscreens available at drugstores and department stores: 

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector --SPF 15—normal/oily (available at department stores)

Lancôme UV Expert 20 with Mexoryl SX—SPF 20 (available at department stores)

Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer (available at drugstores)

Blue Lizard Face Sunscreen SPF 30 (available at many drugstores)

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 with Parsol 1789 (available at many drugstores)

 

Link to Video Demonstration on How to Apply Skin Care Products

 

From www.SkinTour.com and Dr. Brandith Irwin. Copyright 2008 SkinTour LLC. All rights reserved. Journalists, bloggers, and media may reprint this without permission so long as they include this credit box with the article.