Back to Basics: SPF

The sun damages our skin, breaks down collagen, puts us at risk for cancer, and ages us faster than any other environmental factor. But even armed with all this knowledge, many of my patients still aren't applying sunscreen correctly or even wearing any SPF at all! In this issue of Back to Basics, I answer my patient's most frequently asked questions in regards to sunscreen:

• How do I apply sunscreen correctly?

• Should I use physical or chemical sunscreens?

• Will a base tan protect me from burning?

• What sunscreens do the experts wear?

Even if you don't read this entire article...please take one thing away: Sun protection is a non-negotiable. Find a sunscreen you like to wear and wear it every day.

Garrett Forrest, PA-C at Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology demonstrates the correct amount and method of sunscreen application.

Higher SPF #'s = More Protection MYTH!
Using simple math, most of us figure that SPF 30 is twice as effective SPF 15, right? Wrong! According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there’s really just a 4% difference - with SPF 15 blocking 93% of the sun’s rays and SPF 30 blocking 97%. We recommend using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, but keep in mind, the higher SPFs block only slightly more of the sun’s UVB rays and there is no SPF that 100% blocks all UVB rays. Also, don’t assume a higher SPF means your sunscreen lasts longer. High SPFs allow you the same amount of time in the sun as low SPFs and both must be reapplied every 2 hours as well as after swimming or sweating.

Antioxidants Work With My Sunscreen for Increased Sun Protection FACT!
Antioxidant serums, like our best-selling SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, help to neutralize free radicals induced by UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and ozone pollution - all which lead to premature aging in the form of wrinkles, brown spots, and loss of elasticity - bye bye collagen! When you layer a sunscreen over the top of an antioxidant you are providing maximum protection for your skin.

A Base Tan Will Protect Me From Burning MYTH!
A base tan can provide at most an SPF 4. So, if you normally burn within 15 minutes, an SPF 4 would give you an hour outside before you burn. We can’t think of any fun summer outdoor activities that take less than an hour to complete, so using your base tan as protection is a sure fire way to end up burnt. Your body creates melanin (the brown pigment in a tan) as a way to protect your DNA against radiation. So a tan is actually a stress response - your body’s way of telling you that you need to get out of the sun or at least slather on some sunscreen!

Darker Skin Tones Don't Need Sunscreen MYTH!
No matter where your complexion falls on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type scale, ultraviolet radiation (UV) light can damage your skin. Although it’s true that dark skinned people produce more melanin and, therefore, tend to have less sun damage than light skinned people, this does not mean they cannot develop skin cancer. Also, certain skin cancers are caused by other factors than UV such as genetics and environment and may occur on parts of the body that are rarely exposed to the sun.

We recommend yearly skin cancer screenings to all of our patients, regardless of skin tone.

Not all infrared is bad. FACT!
Low level, partial spectrum infrared (IR) actually increases collagen leading to skin with less wrinkles and more elasticity. With the LED Poly treatment, we purposely use infrared light rays for their anti aging benefits. On the other hand, full spectrum IR can cause hyperpigmentation and damage the skin. This is why we love sunscreens like SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair - because they not only block UVA/UVB rays but also full spectrum IR.