by Michele Rutledge, M.D.
Ah, summer: that brief period between winters marked by the colorful burst of flowers, the sparkle of sun on the water, the orange of construction barricades- and the red of sunburn. Those pink and white stripes aren’t just a temporary discomfort; they’re a significant health risk. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and while many skin cancers can be easily managed, many are not. Melanoma in particular can be deadly; it accounts for 75% of all skin cancer deaths. Invasive melanoma is projected to be the fifth most common cancer for men and seventh for women in the US this year. One American dies from melanoma every hour. Fortunately, the main risk factor for skin cancer is exposure to UV rays from sunlight (and tanning beds). We can reduce that exposure and subsequent risk with sun protection.
The goal of all sun protection is to block both UVA and UVB rays. UVA causes skin aging and skin cancer with some tanning, while UVB rays primarily burn. The SPF (sun protection factor) rating of a sunscreen only assesses its ability to block UVB rays, so it doesn’t reflect the ability of a product to reduce your exposure to skin cancer-causing UVA rays. Not all sunscreens can block UVA, and labeling requirements allow a product to carry the label “UVA/UVB protection” even if it offers very little UVA protection. Time to read the labels! Choose a sunscreen with minimum SPF 30 that has one of the following ingredients, which will block both UVA and UVB: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (sometimes called Parsol 1789), or mexoryl. All other sunscreen ingredients will cover UVB rays just fine, and most sunscreens contain a blend of several ingredients to cover the bases.
Sunscreens can block the UV rays entirely or can react with them to prevent their reaching the skin; in the process, they can get used up. All sunscreens can also be physically worn off with water, sweat, or activity, and for all these reasons, reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours minimum is key. Don’t skip sunscreen on cloudy days or on sunny winter days; UV rays are present year round, and clouds don’t block them. Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before you go into the sun so the skin has time to absorb the ingredients and let them work effectively. Be generous with your application. It takes a shot glass full of sunscreen lotion to cover one adult with an adequate base coat. Save the sunscreen sprays for touchup applications during the day; don’t use them for your base coat at the start of the day because they don’t coat well enough. For daily use on the face and neck, look for a moisturizer with an SPF rating of 30 or more; the higher SPF number is a new recommendation to make up for the fact that most of us apply it too sparingly for SPF 15 to be effective. Above all, use sunscreen consistently! Inadequate use has probably exposed a lot of people to more UV rays than they would otherwise have gotten due to a false sense of security.
Now for my favorite form of sun protection! UPF clothing and swimwear has come out in recent years, and offers a host of benefits. UPF stands for UV Protection Factor; a UPF rating of 50 means that only 1/50 of the UV rays penetrate the fabric. That’s a reduction of 98% UV exposure- a huge benefit in the form of something that isn’t greasy and won’t wash off, and can be reused for years. Regular clothing blocks very few UV rays- the average T shirt is equivalent to an SPF 5 sunscreen, and remember that just because you don’t burn in a T shirt doesn’t mean you aren’t getting UV damage from the UVA rays. UPF clothing is also great for babies under 6 months, for whom sunscreens are not advisable. Coolibar, based in St. Louis Park, was one of the first companies in the US to offer UPF clothing. They have a small showroom at their warehouse. Hats are also a great choice; look for one with a 3” or wider brim all around. Don’t forget sunglasses with UV blocking properties- UV rays can lead to cataract development over time, and melanoma can develop in the eye! Shade is another good option, but remember that UV rays can bounce off water and into shady spots by the lake.
All in all, summer is brief and sweet, and we should enjoy God’s gifts in their season. But let’s keep the pinks and reds for the sunsets. Blessings!