Did you know that only 20% of Americans wear sunscreen? This stat has been static over the past 20 years. For most people, slathering on sunscreen once or twice a year at the beach seems to suffice. But applying sunscreen only when you’re at the beach just won’t cut it in the long term. You should be applying (and reapplying) SPF year-round! Here’s why:
What Sun Damage Does to Your Skin
Other than painful and slightly embarrassing sunburn or uneven tan lines, sun damage can really take a toll on your skin in the long term. After years of sun damage, the skin’s pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes, lose their ability to distribute pigment evenly. As the damage progresses, your face shows it in the form of freckles, sunspots, blotches, uneven pigmentation, blood vessels, a duller complexion, and wrinkles. Sun damage can also be deadly. One UK study found that about 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to (UV) radiation from the sun. On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns, but just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than double a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.
This all sounds scary, and it is, but there are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your family. Broad-spectrum sunscreens have been repeatedly shown to benefit skin health and reduce risks for future complications. A study from the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that sunscreens with both a high UVA and UVB rating (14 and 25, respectively) greatly reduced the effects of UV radiation on participants’ immunosuppression (or impaired immune system response). Similarly, a study from the Journal of Clinical Oncology monitored participants’ use of SPF 15+ sunscreen over a ten-year period. Those who properly used the sunscreen daily had their chance of developing invasive melanoma reduced by 73%, and the overall likelihood of developing any type of melanoma (Journal of Clinical Oncology). Broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen also greatly reduced the likelihood of melasma (patches of discolored skin) in pregnant Korean women, with only 1% of the 217 participants developing melasma over the course of the 12-month study (Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications).
Don’t be afraid to really slather it on! Studies have repeatedly shown that sunscreen application is often too infrequent and too sparing (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology), and only a fraction of the recommended 2.0 mg/cm2 (about one ounce) is used. Sparsely applying a high-SPF sunscreen greatly reduces the sunscreen’s efficacy. A 2011 study found that applying a fourth of the recommended dose reduced an SPF 70’s sunscreen to an SPF 19, and the efficacy of an SPF 100 sunscreen to a mere SPF 27 (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology).
Don’t apply a pea-sized amount of sunscreen in the morning and think you’ll be fine all day. Slather it on in the AM and reapply throughout the day using either a spray or powder formula (for those who wear makeup)
Chemical vs. Physical (Mineral) Sunscreen
So, now that you know you need to DEFINITELY be wearing sunscreen, it’s time to figure out which one would be best for you. SPFs can be broken down into two types; chemical and physical.
Physical (also known as mineral) sunscreens work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UV rays. The two most common ingredients used in physical sunscreens are micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both of these are appealing for sunscreen wearers because they aren’t known to be irritating to the skin. This may be because they sit on top of the skin’s surface without being absorbed. But between the two, zinc oxide outperforms titanium dioxide. According to a 1999 study by Mitchnik et al. microfine zinc oxide absorbs more UV light than titanium dioxide in the long-wave UVA spectrum, from 340 to 380 nm, which therefore provides more effective UVA protection.
There is a little controversy when it comes to physical sunscreen as some scientists believe that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide may produce oxygen free radicals at the skin’s surface. However, Dr. Baumann believes that particles of microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are too large to traverse the stratum corneum (outer layer of skin), and therefore are not be able to induce free radical damage within the skin. It should also be noted that physical sunscreens may clog pores, so be sure you are doing a double cleanse every night to remove all the SPF from your skin.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin. Those who wear chemical sunscreens prefer them to their mineral counterparts because they are completely colorless and odorless. However, those who have sensitive skin have found that the ingredients used in them (like oxybenzone and avobenzone) can cause photoallergic contact dermatitis. Avobenzone and oxybenzone have also been demonstrated by Hayden et. al to be absorbed into the body and secreted into the urine of users. While avobenzone and oxybenzone are not considered to be toxic agents based on animal studies, it is still not recommended that sunscreens with oxybenzone are used on children or by pregnant or nursing women, because they are absorbed into the body.
Yes, You Should Even Wear SPF Indoors
Think you don’t need to wear SPF because you’re not leaving the house? Think again! Windows and fluorescent bulbs can let through UV rays that can cause damage to your skin. So unless you’re spending your entire day in a windowless room with no light, your skin is receiving UV radiation and you need to wear sunscreen. According to the American Cancer Society and the Skin Care Foundation, window glass in buildings and cars only protects from UVB rays, letting in 62.8% of UVA rays that can damage your skin. You’re not safe with tinting either, as ordinary tinting only blocks 3.8% of UV rays (sunaware.org). Fluorescent lighting can also produce small amounts of UV rays that can be damaging over time (GELighting). The best way to protect yourself from UVA rays is by using a physical (mineral) sunscreen that contains zinc oxide.
Bottom Line
It’s estimated that the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed in 2019 will increase by 7.7%. One of the best ways to reduce that number is by taking the proper steps to protect ourselves from harmful UVA/UVB rays that cause sun damage. Be part of the 20% — apply (and reapply) sunscreen every single day!