RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - We spend more time out in the sun during the spring and summer months. And it’s about that time when our thoughts turn to sunscreen to protect our skin from damage.
While dermatologists say sunscreen should be worn all year long, they are often asked which product is the best.
“You kind of have to do it to the individual’s needs and desires,” says Dr. Cindy Lamerson, a board-certified dermatologist and with the Nevada Center for Dermatology. “Because if you are not getting that cosmetic component of what makes them feel good, they won’t use it. And if you don’t use your sunscreen, you know it is not going to help you.”
The feel, the protection, how often to reapply — all get down to personal preference.
The more the product is liked, the more it is used — which is exactly the point.
But few people know about the two versions of sunscreen.
There are barrier sunscreens which contain ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which reflect the light back.
They tend to make the skin look white but prevent the sun’s rays from damaging the skin.
“UVA is a longer wavelength light, and it penetrates deeper into the skin,” says Dr. Lamerson. “It is responsible for skin cancers and a lot of aging. UVB is responsible for skin cancers as well — it is responsible for sunburn.”
Then there are chemical sunscreens.
They are absorbed into the skin and convert the rays into heat which is then released by the skin.
But that mechanism — the skin absorption — has some medical experts asking what happens when the chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the bloodstream?
“Some of these like Avobenzone and Oxybenzone and Homosalate, they enter the bloodstream and you can have blood levels,” says Lamerson. “Now what that does we don’t know. We don’t think it does any harm. But we aren’t 100% sure. And they are detectable in the bloodstream.”
The chemical sunscreens can last up to 21 days on the skin.
Barrier sunscreens wash off.
For those concerned about the chemical sunscreens, Dr. Lamerson says barriers work just as well.
For additional sun protection: Check the SPF on the product. It should be 30 or more. Check directions to see how often the sunscreen should be re-applied. Check the front labels to see if the sunscreens are water resistant, and for how long.
For added protection, wear long sleeves shirts, long pants, and a hat.