What the label means
Ultraviolet B rays burn the skin. Ultraviolet A rays age it, and they pass through clouds and window glass. Both cause skin cancer. The SPF number measures protection against UVB only: SPF 15 filters about 93 percent, SPF 30 about 97 percent and SPF 50 about 98 percent. The words broad spectrum mean the product has also passed a federal test for UVA. Water resistant means 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, as the label states, and no sunscreen is waterproof. Mineral formulas based on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide suit sensitive skin, and tinted versions avoid the white cast they leave on darker skin. Choose a fragrance-free product, and throw out any bottle that has expired or spent a summer in a hot car.
How much, and when
An adult in a swimsuit needs about one ounce, which is a full shot glass. The face and neck take roughly half a teaspoon. Apply it fifteen minutes before going out, then every two hours, and immediately after swimming, heavy sweating or toweling off. People miss the ears, the back of the neck, the part in the hair, the backs of the hands and the tops of the feet. With a spray, coat the skin until it glistens and then rub it in. Makeup that contains SPF goes on too thinly to count.
Beyond the bottle
- Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and check the daily UV index in any weather report, since a reading of 3 or higher calls for protection.
- Wear a hat with a brim of three inches all around, because a baseball cap leaves the ears and neck exposed.
- Choose tightly woven or UPF-rated clothing, since a thin white T-shirt gives protection of only about SPF 5 to 7.
- Buy sunglasses labeled UV400 or 100 percent UV protection, because the darkness of the lens means nothing.
Every skin tone
Darker skin burns less easily, but it still develops skin cancer, which is often found late, on the palms, the soles and under the nails. A tan from a tanning bed is damage and not protection. Once a month, check your skin for the warning signs of melanoma: asymmetry, an irregular border, uneven color, a diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and any change over time. A spot that changes, bleeds or will not heal should be seen by a dermatologist.
Note For a sunburn, take cool showers, moisturize and drink extra water. Blisters over a large area, fever or chills call for medical care.
