Summer’s here! It’s time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather and longer days. Because people are out in the sun so much more, summer’s typically known as the season for sunscreen.
But will sunscreen actually protect you?
Surprisingly, no one knows for sure. In fact, there’s no proof that sunscreen protects against skin cancer. 1
So what does sunscreen actually do? It simply prolongs the amount of time you can be exposed to the sun without getting a sunburn.
Ready for another surprise? Wearing a higher number of SPF doesn’t mean you receive extra protection from the sun.
The Skin Cancer Foundation explains SPF “indicates how long it will take for UVB rays to redden skin when using a sunscreen, compared to how long skin would take to redden without the product. For instance, someone using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will take 15 times longer to redden than without the sunscreen.”
Since sunscreens don’t protect against skin cancer, it’s important to watch your exposure to the sun. And the best forms of protection include staying in the shade and covering yourself with clothing and hats. (Not exactly the summertime norm, eh?)
It’s important to spend some time in the sun – without sunscreen – so your body can produce Vitamin D.
What’s what?
Just so you can have a better understanding of what you’re exposed to when you’re in the sun, let me share a little bit about UVA and UVB rays, as well as types of skin cancer:
UVA
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “UVA rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Although they are less intense than UVB, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. They are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate clouds and glass.
“UVA, which penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB, has long been known to play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling (photoaging), but until recently scientists believed it did not cause significant damage in areas of the epidermis (outermost skin layer) where most skin cancers occur. Studies over the past two decades, however, show … UVA contributes to and may even initiate the development of skin cancers.”
UVB
As the “chief cause of skin reddening and sunburn,” the Skin Cancer Foundations reports that UVB “tends to damage the skin’s more superficial epidermal layers. It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer and a contributory role in tanning and photoaging.” Many sunscreens are known to only protect against UVB rays.
Skin cancer
Since UVA and UVB rays are known to cause skin cancer – yes, ultraviolet rays are recognized as human carcinogens by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization – I’ll explain a few types of skin cancer, just for the sake of awareness.
Melanoma, known as the deadliest skin cancer, kills more than 8,000 Americans each year. 2 The Environmental Working Group reports that researchers have noticed sunscreen users have an increased incidence of melanoma – possibly because they willingly expose themselves to UV rays for longer amounts of time since they think they’re “protected” by sunscreen. 3
Nonmelanoma skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Research shows that people who regularly wear sunscreen can lower their risks of squamous cell carcinoma. 4
Even though sunscreen prolongs the time we can spend in the sun without burning, many sunscreens are filled with hazardous ingredients. Join me again tomorrow as I discuss the ingredients to avoid.
Sources
1. “Sunscreens Exposed: 9 surprising truths.” Environmental Working Group.
“Sunscreens Exposed: Heath agencies question sunscreen’s efficacy.” Environmental Working Group.
2. “UV Information.” The Skin Cancer Foundation.
3. “Sunscreens Exposed: 9 surprising truths.” Environmental Working Group.
4. “Sunscreens Exposed: Heath agencies question sunscreen’s efficacy.” Environmental Working Group.
Photo credit
graur codrin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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