As a someone who turns a disturbing shade of Barbie pink when left in the sun too long, I read with interest of new evidence that “overall sun exposure in childhood, not just burns, is a big key to who later develops deadly skin cancer.” The study, at the University of North Carolina, indicated that UV exposure is more a factor of where one lives, rather than how many times you go to the beach. The dermatologist who led the study recommends checking the weather forecast’s “UV Index” and planning activities accordingly.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of reviewing its rules for sunscreen ratings, which currently indicate only the level of UVB blockage, not that of cancer-causing UVA. In the meantime, another leading dermatologist recommends a few ways to determine a sunscreen’s UVA-blocking power and boost overall protection:
- Use enough sunscreen. An adult needs the equivalent of a full shot glass, and a young child a good tablespoon-full. Most people put on too thin a coat to get good UVB coverage, much less whatever UVA protection a brand might offer.
- While official recommendations say wear at least an SPF-15 sunscreen daily, a super-high SPF will counter some of the thin-coat problem.
- Products with the ingredient Helioplex – a more sun-stable mix of the sunscreen ingredients avobenzone and oxybenzone – seem to provide longer-lasting UVA protection, although they can be more expensive. Another certified anti-UVA ingredient, Mexoryl, currently is sold only as a moisturizer.
- Apply sunscreen a half-hour before going outside. It takes that long to start working.
- And limit exposure during the peak UV hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also has a good list of what to do to protect children from the sun, and what to do in case of sunburn.