| |
 With
an ever-growing array of sunscreen products, it's easy to get confused
about what to buy. Some basics: SPF (sun protection factor) ratings apply
to a band of ultraviolet light called UVB, the key culprit in skin cancer.
SPF 15 (the lowest number recommended by doctors) blocks all but 1/15,
or about 93 percent, of UVB. (SPF 2 blocks just 50 percent; SPF 30, about
97 percent.) Don't assume that SPF 60 will protect you twice as long as
30. Unlike the vast variation between SPF 5 and 15, the difference between
30 and numbers above is so minimal that the FDA may eliminate the higher
ratings and call the entire category "30-plus."
Another
band of light called UVA seems to play a role in skin cancer, too. So
many products promise "broad spectrum" protection. But with
no UVA ratings (at least for now - they may soon be required), there's
no way to tell what you're getting. You can, however, look for specific
ingredients that block UVA, like zinc oxide, avobenzone and titanium dioxide.
And if you go to Europe or Canada, try creams containing mexoryl - some
researchers consider it the best UVA protection, but it's not yet available
in the United States.
Here's what's
important: how much sunscreen you put on is as crucial as its SPF. Be
generous - use at least one ounce (about a shot-glass full) every time.
If your bottle says "waterproof;" don't assume you can safely
dunk in and out of the pool all day. Products have to pass only an 80-minute
waterproof test, so you need to reapply every two hours for full protection.
Finally,
never rely on creams alone. "I use sunscreen as a third line of defense,"
says Dr. Arthur Sober of the American Academy of 'Dermatology. The first
two: stay out of the midday sun - and coverup.
Claudia
Kalb, Newsweek
|
