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Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:51 am  |
Got this one from Lifescript.com
UV Basics
Hale explains the difference between the two harmful types of UV rays:
UVA rays: Reach deep into the skin, leading to premature aging
UVB rays: Pass just below the skin’s surface, causing sunburn
Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to the development of skin cancer. A third type, UVC rays, are filtered out by the ozone layer and don’t reach the earth’s surface.
A sunscreen’s SPF refers only to the amount of protection offered from UVB rays. Another rating system, PFA, is able to measure the percentage of UVA rays that are blocked; it is still being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“There is no way to communicate to the consumer how much UVA protection a sunscreen offers,” says dermatologist Dr. James Spencer, a renowned skin cancer expert. “A formula can merely indicate the presence of UVA protection.”
To shield yourself from both types of rays, look for a label that reads “broad-spectrum protection,” Spencer says. This means that the formula protects against both UVA and UVB rays – though not necessarily equally.
All sunscreens will shield you from UVB rays. The following ingredients protect against UVA rays: Mexoryl, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789).
SPF Basics
Logic tells us that a sunscreen with SPF 30 is twice as good as SPF 15, but this isn’t the case.
According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF 15 blocks out 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97% of the rays. However, many patients don’t use the sunscreen correctly, thus decreasing a formula’s effectiveness by as much as half.
While choosing an adequate SPF is important, “the most important thing is the frequency of application,” Spencer says.
Apply an adequate amount of sunscreen before sun exposure and make sure to reapply every two hours. It doesn’t matter how good your formula is if it never makes it out of the bottle. “If it’s not present, it can’t protect you,” Spencer says.
Both our doctors recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 applied daily – not just when you’re sunbathing. “I use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, and I always reapply – even when it’s cloudy or raining,” Hale says.
If you stay indoors all day, you might think you’re safe, but take a look around you. Are you by a window? Although glass blocks UVB rays, it doesn’t block UVA.
What’s New?
Ecamsule, better known as Mexoryl, is an agent that filters out short-wave UVA rays. (Other UVA-blocking sunscreens only protect against longer-wave UVA rays.) One of the most effective UVA-blocking chemicals, Mexoryl, has been available in Europe for over a decade and just recently received FDA approval for use in the United States.
“Mexoryl should have been available in our country long before it was,” Hale says. Why the delay? As over-the-counter products, sunscreens are regulated by the government. To get approval for a new ingredient, manufacturers have to conduct trials that can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Mexoryl is the only sunscreen filter to be approved by the FDA in 25 years.
Unlike most chemical sunscreens, Mexoryl is photo-stable, meaning it doesn’t break down when exposed to UV rays. In other words, Mexoryl continues to work even after exposure to UV light; most other sunscreens break down.
Cosmetics giant L’Oreal holds the patent for Mexoryl; it is found in the line’s Ombrelle sunscreen.
Neutrogena has also developed a new complex that protects against UVB and UVA rays. Called Helioplex, the compound contains both avobenzone and oxybenzone.
Protective Clothing
Throwing a white T-shirt over your swimsuit at the beach is a good start, but it’s not nearly enough. According the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD.org), a white tee offers a dismal SPF 3. “Fifty percent of UV rays go right through,” Spencer says. If the shirt gets wet, the SPF decreases even more.
To provide adequate UV protection, the fabric of your clothing should be dark and tightly woven.
But let’s face it, wearing a black track suit on a hot day by the pool isn’t fun. Instead, try washing your summer clothes with a UV-protective product like Rit Sun Guard, a colorless dye you add to your laundry at the beginning of the wash cycle. It can raise the UPF of your clothing up to 30. (UPF is a measurement of how many UV rays pass through clothing and is similar to SPF.) The UV protection lasts for 20 washings and works even if the clothing gets wet.
You can also buy clothing with UPF already built right in. Solumbra clothing, manufactured by Sun Precautions (SunPrecautions.com), is made with a patented fabric equivalent to SPF 30. Styles include chic jackets, feminine tops and beach cover-ups in pretty colors.
Coolibar clothing (Coolibar.com) has a UPF of 50 and offers a variety of loungewear, such as linen blouses, loose-fitting pants and polo tees. Both lines offer children’s clothing as well. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:56 am |
| Thank you so much for posting this! Although I do slather on sunscreen, I have to admit that it is one thing that I don't really know very much about. I just look for something with what looks like a decent spf. As long as it doesn't make my skin look greasy and it doesn't have some gross smell, I usually figure it's ok. It's good to know more about it though. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:42 am |
Hi Cherisse! Nice to see you back  .
Thanks for posting an excellent article. I highly recommend coolibar too. They have a lot of sun protective clothing and hats. I bought a pair of sungloves from them and never drive without it.
Kristen~ |
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about to hit my 40s, retin-a user, differin, LRP |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:33 pm |
| Wow, this is interesting - other sources, both on EDS and elsewhere, have claimed that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide don't help protect against UVA rays, but this article says they do. Ah, the ever-conflicting information sources! Still, thanks - as I'm currently a strictly physical sunscreen gal, this is good news for me! |
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32, fair hair/eyes/skin, always a mix of dry/oily/sensitive/acne/clogged pores. But I keep getting compliments on my skin, so something must be working! Beauty blog at http://heliotro.pe; online dating coaching at http://theheartographer.com |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:35 pm |
| thanks for the information. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:40 pm |
| Thank you so much for sharing this article with us. I am glad to know that the Ombrelle I purchased will provide the right protection for my family. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:11 pm |
You're welcome, all.  Glad the article is helpful to you. I'm still learning about sunscreen, too. So much info (and yes, conflicting) out there. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:09 pm |
| bkkgirl wrote: |
[i] Instead, try washing your summer clothes with a UV-protective product like Rit Sun Guard, a colorless dye you add to your laundry at the beginning of the wash cycle. It can raise the UPF of your clothing up to 30. (UPF is a measurement of how many UV rays pass through clothing and is similar to SPF.) The UV protection lasts for 20 washings and works even if the clothing gets wet.
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I never knew such thing existed. It sounds like a good product worth looking into, the only thing is, it won't have much help to protect my facial skin. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:06 pm |
Thanks for your sharing!!
I saw an article saying that more than 95% skin aging is caused by the sun.
I think no matter how careful we use the UV protector, it's better to keep away from sunlight unless we have to.  |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:09 pm |
| Thank you for sharing this. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:12 pm |
Thank you bkkgirl.
I have seen an acronym PPD in sunscreen threads. Can someone explain what it means? |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:27 pm |
| melanie haber wrote: |
Thank you bkkgirl.
I have seen an acronym PPD in sunscreen threads. Can someone explain what it means? |
I think you mean "PPA"?
"SPF is 'sun protection factor' that refers to burning ONLY (UVB). The factor for UVA is called PPA. SPF does not imply PPA."
Source: http://www.smartskincare.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10317
ETA: Oh, now I saw that PPD was indeed used in other sunscreen threads. Maybe it can be used interchangeably. I saw on my Sunkiller SS that it got a PPA+++ which is the highest protection for UVA. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:17 pm |
| PA is the Japanese way of rating sunscreen for UVA protection. PA+++ (3 plus) means it has at least PPD of 8. But there's no way of knowing if it has higher PPD than 8 in that system. Unless you have the percentage of actives and use the Ciba sunscreen simulator to estimate. I think that the Sunkiller sunscreens are physical blockers and it's unlikely that they will have PPD that's much greater than 8 anyway. If you need PPD 10 and above, you will need to look to a Euro sunscreen, such as Avene, La Roche Posay, Bioderma. |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:56 pm |
I put sunscreen on in the morning and then my make-up, having to apply sunscreen over my make up every two hours argh  |
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Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:16 pm |
Thank you! This is an interesting article.
Take care.
Bosoxy. |
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*****My 5 Star Rave***** Just loving everything about ICE ELEMENTS!!! You HAVE to try the 2 minute miracle exfoliating gel... It is to die for! |
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