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Skin-protection experts answer questions about blocking sun's harmful rays this summer
By Cheryl Powell
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
Many people are in the dark when it comes to buying and applying sun protection.
Case in point: By mid-June, about 60 people sought treatment at Akron Children's Hospital's burn unit for sunburns, many with extensive blisters and all with pain.
Even patients who applied sunscreen still got burned because they didn't use it correctly, said Mary Mondozzi, the hospital's burn center education coordinator and a registered nurse.
''A lot of people aren't using sunscreens, and they're not thinking about how to put it on properly,'' she said.
To shed some light on the best ways to block the sun's harmful rays, we turned to skin-protection experts for answers.
Q: What's the difference between a sunscreen and a sunblock, and which do I need?
A: Just as their names suggest, a sunscreen filters out some rays, while a sunblock actually blocks the rays, said Dr. Neera Agarwal-Antal, division director of dermatology at Akron Children's Hospital.
''You want to use sunblocks,'' said Agarwal-Antal, who treats patients of all ages in her private practice in Hudson. ''The sunblocks are actually like blocks, where screens are like screens.''
Q: Are products that boast a higher SPF (sun-protection factor) really necessary?
A: SPF indicates the amount of extra time a person can stay out in the sun without getting burned when properly using the product, Agarwal-Antal said.
For example, a person who would burn in one minute could theoretically stay out in the sun for 30 minutes when using a product with SPF 30. Someone who would burn in 10 minutes theoretically could stay out 300 minutes.
Most experts recommend buying products with an SPF of 30 or higher, even for people who don't burn easily.
When it comes to SPF, Agarwal-Antal believes the higher the better.
The reason? The majority of folks don't use an adequate amount of sunblock or reapply often enough.
''I know my patients are reapplying,'' she said. ''I know they're wiping it off.''
Q: Are there active ingredients that make sunscreens or sunblocks more effective?
A: Micronized forms of tinanium dioxide and zinc oxide are common active ingredients used in products that effectively block both UVA and UVB rays, Agarwal-Antal said. (Whether these particles pose health risks, however, remains a source of debate.)
Zinc oxide is the best sunblock ingredient for babies, she said, because it's the same ingredient already safely used in many diaper rash ointments.
Another common sunblock ingredient is called avobenzone, which blocks UVA and UVB rays, she said.
In addition, two newer sunblock ingredients called mexoryl and helioplex ''provide better UVA projection,'' said Dr. Melissa Piliang, a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist. ''These are stable longer.''
Q: Are any products really ''waterproof''?
A: '' 'Water resistant' is the better term,'' Piliang said. ''They make the consistency of the product so it's more adherent to the skin and doesn't dissolve in water as much. Often, they feel more sticky or tacky.''
The industry standard to claim to be ''water resistant'' is for a sunblock product that remains effective after water exposure for 80 minutes.
''When you get out of the pool,'' Piliang said, ''you should reapply. You should reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours anyway.''
Q: Is my leftover sunscreen from last summer still good?
A: Probably — but you really shouldn't have any left if you were using it properly.
Sun-protection products are supposed to remain effective for three years, Piliang said.
However, she said, the average person should use about an ounce of sunblock per application. That means a 6-ounce bottle should last only six applications — not an entire season.
''The average person should go through 4 ounces of sunblock during a day at the beach,'' Agarwal-Antal said.
Q: Do children need special products designed for kids?
A: Not necessarily.
For children with sensitive skin, ''most of the ones that are made for kids are fragrance-free and less likely to have irritating substances in them,'' Piliang said. ''But they're the same active ingredients.''
Q: Are those spray-on sunblocks any good?
A: ''I think those are fantastic,'' Piliang said. ''I think it's very good, especially for the little kids. You can spray them while they're moving. . . . They're pretty easy to use, and that's key, I think.''
Don't spray the product directly on the face, however, because it could get in the eyes, she said. Instead, Piliang recommends using the waxy, stick-style sunblock on the face near the eyes.
Agarwal-Antal puts sunblock lotion on her 5-year-old twins before heading to the pool and then reapplies spray-on sunblock throughout their time outdoors. (And her children also don sun-protective clothing, such as hats and shirts.)
Q: Does the price of a sunblock matter, or am I safe in buying cheaper brands or store-name products? Which products are the best?
A: In an article published last year, Consumer Reports gave its highest mark for sunscreens with water-resistance claims to Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 45. The magazine awarded its ''CR Best Buy'' to No-Ad Sunblock Lotion Maximum SPF 45.
Bottom line: Regardless of the price, brand name or type, find a sunblock or sunscreen you like — and then use it.
''The best sunblock is one you will use,'' Agarwal-Antal said. ''So I can recommend all the sunblock from here to wherever, but if you don't like the way it feels, slides or sticks on, then find one you like.''
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Many people are in the dark when it comes to buying and applying sun protection.
Get the full article here.
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