As the days grow warmer in the northern hemisphere and everyone’s packing for sunny holidays, I have an important question for you:

Are you choosing your sunscreen right?

Like many people, I didn’t think too much of this before. I thought you just slapped on some sunscreen and got on with your day. That is, until I read from the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation that 80,000 skin cancer cases are discovered in Canada every single year! I shudder just recalling this.

What’s more, I realized that sunscreen is so often misunderstood and misused. One scientific poll found that less than half of people understood how sunscreen works and what SPF numbers mean. So it got me thinking, Am I choosing and using sunscreen right?

I found important info that was new to me – and could be surprising to you, too.

Sunscreen lotions and creams work through either of two ways: deflecting the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, or absorbing these rays before they get in our skin.

Of course, you should consult your own dermatologist if you’re concerned about sunscreen ingredients and how they might affect you. You can also read our section below on the potential dangers of certain sunscreens.

One thing is certain though: using sunscreen is essential to prevent sunburns and decrease the risk of skin cancer. It’s now just a matter of choosing your sunblock carefully and using it properly.

So you’re at the store trying to pick the right sunscreen, checking their labels. You see words like “broad spectrum,” “UVA,” and “UVB.” Do they matter? Absolutely. Here’s your quick-tionary to what sunscreen labels mean:

• Broad spectrum – This is a type of sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB radiation. Some sunscreens that are not broad spectrum only shield you from UVB rays. (See below for more on UVA and UVB.)
• SPF – Stands for sun protection factor, which is a measure of how well the sunscreen protects from UVB radiation. The higher the SPF number, the greater the amount of solar radiation it fends off. SPF numbers are not indicators of how long you can stay in the sun, but how much sun exposure your skin can get before reddening. For instance, midday sun exposure is greater than late-afternoon sun exposure.
  Note also that SPF numbers are not on a linear scale – for example, SPF 30 doesn’t mean double the SPF 15. Read our “Surprising Facts” section below for more on this.
• UV – Stands for ultraviolet, referring to a type of sun radiation that can harm human skin. There are three main sub-types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC, however, is mostly absorbed by the Earth’s ozone layer, so we don’t need extra protection from it.
• UVA – Ultraviolet A is the more prevalent, more skin-penetrating type of sun radiation. It’s what you use for tanning, but it can also cause premature skin aging, wrinkles, cell damage, and skin cancer.
• UVB – Ultraviolet B, the less-penetrating solar radiation, mostly affects the skin’s outer layer. It is, however, the chief culprit behind sunburns. UVB may not be strong enough to fully go through clouds and glass, but when you’re too exposed to it, it can still damage your skin cells.
• Water-resistant – This is a type of sunscreen that stays effective for 40 or 80 minutes after you get water on you, like when you swim or sweat. P.S. Don’t be fooled by labels that say “waterproof” sunscreen, because there’s no such thing! All sunscreens lose effectiveness after a certain period of washing off.

You can see that these SPF levels actually provide such similar protections that the differences are pretty much negligible. In fact, experts say SPF 50 or 100 might not be the best buy for an outdoor trip. According to various institutions, including the American Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF 30 is sufficient protection for basking in the sun – with proper usage, of course.

Think of this whenever you’re guilt-tripped into spending more for a higher-SPF sunscreen.

If you’ve been researching sun protection, you’ve probably read scary articles that may make you think twice about using sunscreen. One study, for example, detected carcinogenic (cancer-causing) compounds in suncare products. Another oft-cited research saw that chemical sunscreen ingredients – namely avobenzone, ecamsule, octocrylene, and oxybenzone – were absorbed into the bloodstream.

So are sunscreens dangerous to human health? Not if you choose right, say scientists.

Some of the most common sunscreen ingredients are on this non-GRASE list, including avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octisalate.

So if chemical sunscreens are not definitely safe, what is the safe sunscreen choice? Dermatologists recommend going for physical sunscreens instead. These are suncare products that physically block the sun using mineral ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Under FDA standards, these two ingredients are generally recognized as safe and effective.

This clarifies so much of the scare around sunscreens. Not all sunscreen lotions and creams are iffy. If you want a safe and effective sunscreen product, avoid chemical ingredients and opt for a zinc oxide one instead.

Hope this helps you choose the right sunscreen and enjoy the bright outdoors! Where are you guys headed this summer? Any summer tips? Leave a comment – I’d love to hear them!

xx

Judit

Further reading:

Understanding Sunscreen | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Sunscreens: Protect Your Skin - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center

What does the SPF rating really mean? - Curious

Is Sunscreen Bad for You?

Sunblock vs. sunscreen: Which one should you use?