What are sunscreens?
Sunscreens are products that protect the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR). They do this by using: organic chemicals that absorb light and dissipate it as heat; inorganic filters (blockers) that sit on the surface of the skin and act as physical barriers; or a combination of both.

Ultraviolet Radiation
There are three types of UVR:

UVB - primarily responsible for sunburn and suntan. Long-term exposure leads to premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

UVA - primarily responsible for premature aging and skin cancers like melanoma and basal cell carcinoma.

UVC - is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere

What protection do sunscreens provide?
SPF 30 sunscreens filter 97% of UVB rays. Products that contain 6% or more zinc oxide provide very good UVA protection. Two lines of skincare have recently introduced products with good UVA protection: Neutrogena products containing Helioplex™ and La Roche-Posay's Anthelios SX containing Mexoryl™.

Key points about sunscreens:

• No sunscreen is "waterproof/sweatproof." Sunscreen should always be applied to dry skin. All sunscreens start to come off during activity; it is important that sunscreen by reapplied after towel drying. Products labeled as "waterproof" in the United States have completed an 80-minute still-water bath test.
• No sunscreen provides "all-day protection." As stated, chemical absorbers work by absorbing light, but they can be unstable when exposed to light. For example, avobenzone loses 36% of its effectiveness within the first 15 minute of sun exposure. Inorganic filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) adhere to the skin but can be removed during towel drying. The FDA has asked for voluntary removal of the label claim "all-day protection."
• High SPF sunscreens don't necessarily offer broader or better protection. SPF only indicates the amount of UVB protection a product provides and does not indicate how much if any UVA protection is provided. The consumer needs to understand that the specific formulation of the sunscreen determines the amount of protection. Zinc oxide products (6% or higher) provide very photostable UVB and UVA protection. High SPF products (i.e. SPF 45, 55, 60) typically contain high levels of organic chemicals that can increase the potential for irritation and absorption, especially in children.
• No sunscreen offers complete protection against the sun. Therefore, products using the term "Sunblock" are a misnomer as they allow some UV to penetrate the skin. A product that contains Zinc Oxide does provide blocking (reflective) capabilities, but even Zinc Oxide, unless applied as a paste, allows a little UV to penetrate the skin.

For more information on skin cancer and sunscreens visit this website, especially the "Facts About Sunscreen" Section: http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/index.html.

Recommended products:
There are numerous brands and types of sunscreens available that are acceptable to use. We recommend any of the Neutrogena products with Helioplex™ as they are easy to find in most drugstores or pharmacies and offer good UVA as well as UVB protection.

Example Facial moisturizers with sunscreen:

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
• Oil of Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, SPF 30
• Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer
• Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion SPF 30

For men:

• Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion, SPF 20

For Kids:

• Banana Boat for Kids
• Waterbabies by Coppertone

Make Up/Foundation:
Many foundations offer sun protection. We suggest a product that is oil free for acne prone skin.

For additional information, The Skin Cancer Foundation website provides lists of recommended products: www.skincancer.org.