Be Sun Smart!

Now that we're on the verge of summer and we've had some nice stretches of warm, sunny weather I thought this would be a good time to shine a little spotlight on sun exposure. 

When I was a child we didn't think much about sun exposure...well I can say as children we didn't think about it at all, other than we wanted to be in the sun as much as possible!  After chatting with my Mom recently I discovered that it wasn't a major concern for our parents either.  It's not that they were being inconsiderate of our health, there simply wasn't the level awareness twenty or thirty years ago like there is today.  Despite a tremendous increase in the public awareness of the risks of prolonged sun exposure, skin cancers, and the like we still fall short in one important area...how to make more empowered and informed decisions about decreasing the risks associated with sun exposure.

I love being out in the sun as much as the next person.  Heck, after six long months (or more it seems) of winter in Vermont who isn't ready to get out and enjoy some warm weather and sunshine!

We crave that visible sunlight, or visible radiation, but it's the invisible, or ultraviolet  (UV) radiation that we need to understand.  UV radiation from the sun is comprised of wavelengths that you're probably familiar with at least by name:  UVA (long wave), UVB (short wave), and UVC (so short it is absorbed by our atmosphere before it reaches us).  Prolonged exposure to UV radiation damages the skin's cellular DNA produces genetic mutations in the cells that can lead to skin cancer.  You can read more about UVA and UVB radiation at skincancer.org

I hope we can all agree that it is important to prevent skin cancer!  The use of sunscreen seems to be the accepted way of mitigating the harmful effects of sun exposure.  Here's what you may not know:

-The FDA says that available clinical studies “do not demonstrate that even [broad spectrum products with SPF greater than 15] alone reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.”  

-Sunscreen users may stay out in the sun longer increasing their UV radiation exposure over time, combined with the use of inadequate or inferior sunscreen products, this population may actually increase their risk of skin damage and skin cancer.


-High SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ratings can be misleading.  Buyer beware!  The FDA says there is no assurance that SPF ratings over 50 are even legitimate.  Consumers may assume that sunscreen with SPF 30 provides twice as much protection as SPF 15.  Not the case!  SPF 15 protects against 93% of UVB rays, while an SPF 30 protects against 97% of UVB rays.  Wearing a high SPF sunscreen may give you a false sense of security and encourage prolonged sun exposure.

-Both UV radiation AND some sunscreen ingredients can cause free radicals that can damage skin cells and lead to genetic changes and cancer.  The goal would be to use a sunscreen that prevents more damage than it causes, right?  When we apply too little sunscreen and/or apply it too infrequently we may be causing more free radical damage to our skin than the UV radiation!

-Nano-particals or potentially harmful chemicals?  That is the question.  Sunscreens currently available in the US fall into two categories:  Chemical based or mineral based.  Chemical based sunscreens have inferior stability, easily penetrate the skin and may disrupt our hormone systems.  Many mineral based sunscreens use micronized or nanoscale particles of the minerals (typically zinc and titanium).  The properties of a given substance often change as it approaches the nanoscale.  The transient nature of these teeny tiny particles means they can move throughout and into parts of our body that the non-micronized minerals would not be able to reach.  There are many unknowns when it comes to nano-particles.  Read more here.

-Consumer protection standards are weak.  "Sunblock" "waterproof" "sweatproof" "broad spectrum" among others, are misleading terms that can be and often are used to market sunscreen.  The FDA has not evaluated the safety of new sunscreen ingredients or combinations of ingredients, nor has it considered evidence of hormone disruption in chemical sunscreens.

Be Sun Smart:

1.  Choose the safest sunscreen and apply as directed!  We recommend a mineral-based sunscreen.  Check out "thinksport LIVESTRONG"  Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours.

2.  Limit sun exposure during the peak sun hours (10AM-3PM).

3.  Cover up!  Wear chemical free UPF rated clothing and hats.

4.  Don't forget your eyes!  Wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

Remember that babies and children can't do this on their own!  Five or more sunburns in a lifetime doubles our risk of skin cancer. 

BE EMPOWERED BY LEARNING MORE!  CLICK HERE to find the best sunscreens, discover the worst offenders, get more tips, and download a guide to take with you!