Sunscreen: Essential Protection for Skin Cancer PreventionSunscreen: Essential Protection for Skin Cancer Prevention The American Cancer Society estimates that 3.3 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer annually, highlighting the importance of sun protection. However, one in three Americans rarely wear sunscreen, despite concerns about skin cancer. The Advanced Dermatology Sun Safety Study revealed that only 65% of participants apply sunscreen to all exposed areas. SPF and Sunscreen Duration SPF, or sun protection factor, measures a sunscreen’s ability to protect from UVB rays, the radiation responsible for sunburns and skin damage. However, SPF does not indicate how long sunscreen can be worn in the sun. Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explains that SPF 30 and higher offer optimal protection, with SPF 50 not providing significantly more protection than SPF 30. Reapplication is crucial, not based on SPF, but on the UV index and time spent in the sun. Sunscreen Application and Protection Sunscreen should be applied liberally to both the face and exposed areas of the body. For the face and neck, use two fingers full of product; for the body, a “shot glass full” is recommended. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVB and UVA rays, offering comprehensive protection. Rossi recommends spraying sunscreen directly onto the skin rather than into the air to ensure even coverage. Additional Recommendations * Get some sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. * Wear sunscreen when the UV index is 3 or higher. * Consider using skin-care and makeup products containing sunscreen as an additional layer of protection. * Reapply sunscreen regularly throughout the day. By following these guidelines, you can effectively protect your skin from harmful UV rays and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Whether you’re lounging by the pool, playing pickleball, or surfing, wearing sunscreen is a must, as the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 3.3 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. However, the Advanced Dermatology Sun Safety Study found that one in three Americans rarely wear sunscreen. More than half of the participants admitted to being concerned about skin cancer, while 65 percent said they only apply sunscreen to certain areas of their body. Based on the participants’ responses, the shoulders and back are the areas that burn the most, followed by the face and neck.
It goes without saying that the best way to prevent skin cancer is to wear sunscreen and reapply protection throughout the day to both your face and exposed areas, such as your chest, arms, and legs. But as one dermatologist recently noted, it’s important to understand what friendly of the sunscreen you use and How You use it.
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On HuffPost’s Am I doing it wrong? podcast, dermatologist Anthony RossiMD, revealed that the biggest mistake people make when it comes to sunscreen is confusing the SPF number with the length of wear.
SPF stands for sun protection factor. Just as sunscreen comes in many different forms (sprays, oils, lotions, gels, and sticks), SPF also has its own unique range. By definition, SPF refers to “a measure of how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays, the type of radiation that causes sunburn, skin damage, and can contribute to skin cancer,” organic sunscreen brand Badger explains.
Simply put, SPF indicates the strength of a sunscreen’s protection against the sun, not how long it can be worn in the sun. For example, you probably don’t need to reapply SPF 15 sunscreen every 15 minutes.
“We say SPF 30 or higher is good for everyone as sun protection because at that point on the SPF curve, at 30, it pretty much flattens out,” explains Rossi, a surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “So an SPF 50 doesn’t give you that much more protection (than an SPF 30).”
As for when to apply sunscreen, Cheryl Petersa senior scientist at the BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Cancer, advises getting some sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest.
“Once you get to the UV index of 3, you really want to wear sunscreen and reapply it regularly,” Peters said during a CBC Radio broadcast. I’m just asking appearance.
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And while most moisturizers, foundations and other skin-care and makeup products now contain sunscreen, Rossi said it should be used as a “bonus” in addition to regular sunscreen with a high SPF. He also recommended choosing a sunscreen with “broad-spectrum” protection.
“UVB causes burns and UVA contributes to aging, so we say ‘A is for aging, B is for burn’ — that’s how we remember our exams,” Rossi said in the podcast. “Together, they can both cause damage to the skin. That’s why you want to find a broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers both UVB and UVA.”
When applying sunscreen to the face and neck, experts recommend using two fingers full. For the body, a “shot glass full” is best, Rossi said.
If you prefer to use spray sunscreen instead of lotion, Rossi points out that it only works if you spray it directly onto the skin, rather than like perfume, where you spray it into the air first and then let it run.
“The way sunscreen is designed is you really need a good thin layer all over your skin,” Rossi advised. “If you actually spray it on your skin and you cover your entire skin, you’re going to get good coverage. But you have to be diligent about it.”
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