Covering up
is your best
defense
against skin
cancer but
for those
days you're
going to be
exposed to
the sun,
make sure
you grab
some
sunscreen.
Have you
noticed how
many well
known people
are having
surgery to
remove
cancer from
their face?
How about
people you
know? It is
reported
that there
will be over
a million
new skin
cancer cases
this year
alone. It
doesn't have
to be that
way if
people would
just take
the time to
apply a
generous
amount of
sunscreen on
their
exposed
skin.
Let's
take a look
at the types
of
sunscreens
that are
available on
the market
today.
Types
of
Sunscreens
The most
common and
basic is
clothing. A
tightly
woven,
lightly
colored
material is
best.
Next
would be
chemical
sunscreens
that are
available in
a variety of
forms. They
contain one
or more of
UV
radiation-absorbing
chemicals. A
few of the
most common
chemical
groups that
block UVB
radiation
are known as
PABA
(p-aminobenzoic
acid), PABA
esters
(padimate
O),
cinnamates
(cinoxate,
ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate),
salicylates
(octylsalicylate,
homosalate),
and
anthranilates
(methyl
anthranilate).
That
goodness for
acronyms.
While these
all block
UVB
radiation,
the chemical
group known
as
benzophenone
(oxybenzone
and
dioxybenzone)
provides the
best
protection
against both
UVA and UVB
radiation.
Protection
All
sunscreens
are assigned
Sun
Protection
Factor (SPF)
numbers by
the U.S.
Food and
Drug
Administration
(FDA). This
number
refers to
the
sunscreen
ability to
block UVB
radiation.
Sunscreen
products
with SPFs of
2 to 50 are
available on
the market.
Now here is
the
interesting
part, a
sunscreen
product with
a SPF of 15
will protect
your skin 15
times longer
from UVB
than if you
did not have
sunscreen
applied at
all but a
SPF 30 does
not work
twice as
well. A
sunscreen
with SPF 30
will only
provide
another 3%.
So think
twice before
you fork out
more money
expecting a
lot greater
protection.
It is
also
important
that the
product
stand-up to
the stress
of prolonged
exercise,
sweating,
and
swimming.
Look for the
following
three
labeling
recommendations
to help you
determine
the the most
effective
sunscreen
for your
activity:
-
Sweat-resistant:
gives
protection
up to 30
minutes
during
continuous
heavy
perspiration
-
Water-resistant:
gives
protection
up to 40
minutes
during
continuous
water
exposure -
Waterproof:
gives
protection
up to 80
minutes of
during
continuous
water
exposure
Remember
to reapplied
sunscreen
after
prolonged
swimming or
perspiring.
Also
remember
that
reapplication
of a
sunscreen
does not
further the
period of
protection.
In
Conclusion:
I'll say
it again,
cover up if
you plan on
spending
long periods
of time in
the sun, if
at the beach
or swimming
make sure
you use the
appropriate
sunscreen
and reapply
as needed.
