by Dr. William Greenberg
Many consumers have a false sense of security when it comes to wearing sunscreens in the winter and are misinformed of which ingredients are most important in a sunscreen. In the winter, the earth is closer to the sun causing higher levels of ultraviolet rays that are harmful to the skin. At this time it is even more important to take precautions to protect your skin. What does your sunscreen have in it?
There are two types of radiation from which we must protect ourselves: UVA and UVB radiation. UVA radiation is the more dangerous type of radiation that penetrates through glass and our skin’s surface without damaging the skins surface and therefore doesn’t cause a sunburn. UVA damage is silent, leading to what causes skin cancer, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin, e.g. dark spots). It takes a long-term toll on the deeper skin layer causing wrinkling and cellular damage. UVB radiation causes sunburn and many consumers believe their sunscreen protects them from this type of damage as well as UVA damage because of the SPF rating it says on the bottle. THIS IS A DANGEROUS MISCONCEPTION.
SPF ratings only applies to UVB protection NOT UVA. Sunscreen manufacturers (including Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic, and Neutrogena, among others) claim their products are effective against both UVA and UVB rays. PABA and other ingredients can protect against sunburn from UVB rays, but only a physical block or specific chemical block can protect against UVA rays. The packaging is confusing in that SPF numbers only apply to UVB exposure not UVA. Yet most of these products are missing a major ingredient that affords protection against UVA. These ingredients can be the oxides, such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide as well as chemicals such as avobenzone and Mexoryl.
If these ingredients are missing, or not present in sufficient concentration, the sunscreens provide very little protection against UVA rays which are the more hazardous rays in the long run. Sunscreens without these ingredients will prevent you from getting a “sunburn,” but UVA protection is actually much more important long term because of the silent injury it causes at the cellular level. Also, the newer formulations of sunscreens containing quality UVB and UVA protecting ingredients are micro-crystallized, so that they blend into the skin nicely.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when purchasing and using sunscreens:
- Purchase a sunscreen with an SPF 20 or greater
- Make sure the sunscreen contains an ingredient active against UVA rays such as:
- Zinc Oxide
- Titanium Dioxide
- Avobenzone
- Mexoryl (newly FDA approved in the USA)
- Higher concentrations of the above ingredients will afford better protection
- Apply the sunscreen approximately one hour prior to sun exposure so it has a chance to be fully absorbed by the skin. Getting to the pool and applying sunscreen there won’t properly protect you.
- Make sure you reapply after sweating or swimming and throughout the day as the sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time.
- Even if it isn’t warm and you aren’t going to be at the beach or outside all day, you should still be using one of these sunscreens on a daily basis for a significant period of time. Even in the winter. For example, if you are skiing or skating outdoors, sun is reflected off the snow and ice requiring quality UVA and UVB sun protection.
William Greenberg M.D.
Medical Director, Skin thera P medical spa
301 E 81st Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10028
212-253-7138
info@skintherap.com
|
