By Danielle McElroy, wibc.com Aesthetician
As a Skin Care Professional, I get a lot of questions from patients regarding sunscreen use. I find in my years of training as a licensed, medical aesthetician, that generally most patients have not been educated about the basics of sunscreen use.
There is a lot of misguided information about this in the media. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year! Case studies have shown that there is a direct link between sunburns and enhanced risk for melanoma. When our skin responds to the sun physically, with sunburn symptoms and or a tan, this is because the skin is experiencing an inflammatory response to the sunrays. This response is all in an effort to protect itself from the UVB/UVA rays!
The technicians in the skin care field have an important responsibility to educate patients about some of the facts about healthy skin and sunscreen use. With all the education we have achieved on sunscreen, many often disregard the details for application of it.
First off, sunscreen should be applied 20-30 minutes before going out. It should be applied on all areas exposed at all times. Areas of the body we forget about are the ears, hands, feet, neck, and eyelids. Sunscreen should be applied all over, on a daily basis, regardless of the weather conditions. UVA rays are out all year long and even penetrate through windows! UVB rays are only active during certain months of the year. When the sun is not shining, the rays are still active. The UVB rays are known as the “burning rays,” but often times the UVA rays are the more damaging rays to the skin.
UVA rays suppress the immune system, which interferes with the spread of skin cancer. These rays also lead to signs of premature aging. The American Academy of Dermatology recently introduced the AAD Seal Of Recognition, which helps consumers choose sunscreens that will provide the best protection for them. The recommendation for consistency of sunscreen, is creams over sprays or gels; creams that are water- resistant, with broad- band spectrum protection. I would advise patients to also look for the seal of recognition when making their selection.
In addition to this, the best ingredients to look for in a sunscreen are as follows: Avobenzone(Parsol 1789), Cinoxate, Ecamsule(Mexoryl SX), Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide. These are the ingredients that test the highest in case studies for efficacy purposes.
At Meridian Plastic Surgery Center/ Spa 170 West, we offer our patients only the highest quality in skincare. We are also very dedicated to educating our patients on nothing but the best for their skin. I like to introduce patients to Skin Ceuticals sunscreens. Dermatologists recommend these high quality sunscreens all over the country. They give excellent protection to the skin.
Choosing a sunscreen is very lifestyle and location dependent. The specific ones that I recommend to patients by Skin Ceuticals are Active SPF 15, Physical UV Defense SPF 30 and SPF 45 Sport UV Defense. Active SPF 15 has a 3% Mexoryl SX, Ecamsule(the highest available in the U.S.,) 2% Avobenzone, and a 10% Octocrylene. This sunscreen is good for teens and every day use. It is also great for patients who are less exposed to the outdoors. The Physical UV Defense SPF 30 has 5% transparent Zinc Oxide, 10% Titanium Dioxide and no added chemical ingredients. I recommend this SPF for patients who are exposed to the outdoors more than the average person. For patients who are outdoors and very active SPF 45 Sport UV Defense is the way to go! It is water resistant and also has 7.5% octinoxate. This ingredient is a UVB inhibitor.
I always instruct patients to reapply their sunscreen every hour, especially on face, neck, and chest. For someone who is in the water often or loves to travel, the application will be more frequent. For these patients specifically, I recommend every half hour for reapplication.
While you are finishing up all of your vacation time before the kids go back to school, don’t forget to throw your sunscreen in your pile of stuff to take with. Your kids will thank you for it later!