45°
With the official start of summer upon us, it's time to stock up on sunscreen. There are a vast number of choices stocking the store shelves today, so how do you know which ones provide the best protection against sunburn, skin cancer and a host of other damages to the skin caused by too much sun?
According to Dr. Sharon Littzi, an aesthetic dermatologist in New Canaan, too much sun can cause wrinkling, actinic keratoses or pre-cancerous lesions, skin cancer including basal cell cancer and the more serious types of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
"Some dermatologists would agree that 90 percent of aging is the result of sun damage and most of it occurs before the age of 18. The sun damages the elastin and collagen fibrils which results in accelerated aging and sagging of the skin," Littzi says.
In addition, cataracts may be the result of sun damage and freckling is an easy sign of sun-damaged skin. "If a mother sees freckling on a child, she should be aggressive with more and more sunblock," Littzi warns.
The most damaging sun rays are ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays or UVA and UVB. The percentage of protection from damaging UV rays is: SPF 15 = 92%, SPF 30 = 97%, SPF 40 = 97.5%.
"Sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB rays (are) what dermatologists classify as broad spectrum; products that are effective for everyone," Littzi says.
Littzi recommends these brands of brod spectrum suncreens: Blue Lizard high SPF products, Bull Frog high SPF products, Neutrogena high SPF products and Anthelios high SPF products.
Physical sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide protect against UVB and UVA. However, zinc oxide blocks more UV radiation than titanium dioxide and, therefore, is the preferred ingredient. Some chemical sunscreens can also block UVA rays. Octocrylene is a chemical known as a cinnamate that has both UVA and UVB absorbing properties, and the enzophenones, such as avobenzone, can also absorb both UVA and UVB rays.
Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun to give the product time to soak into the skin and it's a good general rule to apply the product liberally.
"Sometimes, when I have a patient with very fair skin, I will tell them to use two different sunblocks. Apply one that is chemical free first and one that contains a chemical block second," Littzi adds.
Littzi says if you are not getting some sun, you run the risk of becoming vitamin D deficient. She recommends taking a Vitamin D supplement and getting a blood test from your family doctor.
For more information go to www.DrLittzi.com
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
