Aesthetic News from LV Derm:
How important is wearing sunscreen daily?
How often should I reapply my sunscreen? Does SPF matter that much?
These are all questions we hear quite frequently at Las Vegas Dermatology. In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month we will focus on giving you, “all the answers”.
First, facts:
- 93% of all external aging is caused by sun exposure.
- UV rays can penetrate through windows in your home, car or office. So even if you’re inside all day you may still be receiving sun damage.
- There are three different types of UV rays:
– UVA; about 99% of all UV exposure is UVA, causing photo aging and skin cancer.
– UVB; only 1% of UV exposure is UVB which are rays that cause burning.
– UVC; this is the most dangerous of all UV exposure. Luckily, as of now, these rays are only prevalent in central Australia.
- Just one sunburn before age 18 will give you a 50% chance of skin cancer by age 60; five sunburns will give you an 80% chance.
Have you ever asked yourself, “What sunscreen is right for me?” It’s not a bad question to ask considering there are hundreds on the market with different SPF and formulations. There are two main types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Physical blocks are comprised of two main ingredients; titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These are both forms of a crushed mineral and can sometimes leave a white film on the skin, although newer forms are micronized and will blend in easier. A physical block is a true sun block; it will literally deflect the damaging rays from penetrating your skin. Chemical sunscreens are comprised of a variety of different ingredients to help diffuse the sun’s rays once they have already penetrated the skin. Chemical sunscreens are most often found in oil free formulas and blend into the skin without any film or shine. You must wait 30 minutes after applying these sunscreens for the ingredients to activate and be effective.
There is no such thing as 100% sun protection. An SPF 15 will protect you from about 93% of UV damage; an SPF 30 will protect you from about 96% of the sun’s rays. The highest SPF recognized by the FDA is SPF 50 which will give you around 98-99% protection from the sun, anything higher will give you about the same result. If you will be exposed to the sun in outdoor activities you must reapply your sun protection every two hours. Studies show that those who reapply their sunscreen every 2 ½ hours are twice as likely to burn than those who reapply every 2 hours. A full shot glass of sunscreen (2 oz.) is what you need to cover your entire body.
Make sure that whatever sunscreen you use is broad spectrum, meaning protection from UVA and UVB rays. Las Vegas Dermatology carries a wide range of different SPF products for all skin types and all of our sunscreens are FDA approved and medical grade to provide only the best protection. We always provide complimentary product consultations to custom match the perfect products for your skin.
