Sunscreen 101
May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, so we wanted to take the opportunity to shed some light on sunscreen. As board certified dermatologists (and moms!) we get asked about this topic all. of. the. time. Lucky for us we love to talk about it – and there’s never been a better time to do so as the market becomes flush with more and more products touting SPF protection each day – and while variety is the spice of life, it can also make things quite confusing as a consumer!
The Basics
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a minimum of SPF 30 is suggested for everyday use. Specially one with broad spectrum protection to be sure you’re getting protection from both UVA and UVB rays and preferably choose a water-resistant formula. Reapply every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or sweating. Reapplication is key!
Is a Higher SPF Better?
Research indicates it just might! The findings of the 199-participant study were published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the really great thing about this study is it was designed to be “real life.” The participants skied in Vail, CO and were responsible for applying half their faces in SPF 50 and the other half in SPF 100. More than 55 percent of the subjects were burned more on the SPF 50 side than on the SPF 100 side. Sunburn severity was also worse on the SPF 50 side.
Mineral vs. Chemical
Whether you are on team Chemical or Physical SPF, as long as you're wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30+, we are happy Derms! However, understanding the difference is important so that the order in which you apply your sun protection doesn't sabotage its superpowers.
Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin where they absorb UV rays, convert the rays into heat, and release them from the body. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens include avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone (note: oxybenzone should not be used during pregnancy).
IMPORTANT: For chemical sunscreens to work they need to be applied directly onto clean skin so they can be absorbed and do their job.
On the other hand, physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin and create a physical barrier that reflects the sun’s rays. The minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the main active ingredients in physical sunscreens.
IMPORTANT: If you're using a physical sunscreen it needs to be the last thing you apply in your skincare routine for it to work.
We both personally prefer mineral sunscreens and recommend them most often. We find them well tolerated by even highly sensitive skin types and they’ve come a long way from their chalky past, with more aesthetically pleasing applications!
The “Scary” Chemicals
As we’ve said above, if a chemical sunscreen is a better fit for your lifestyle and skin needs, go for it! Avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone all sound pretty scary, but it would take decades of literally eating these products to be concerned about the purely theoretical risks of endocrine disruption or cancer. Note: oxybenzone should not be used during pregnancy.
Our Favorites!
Shop most of the SPFs we love in our eShop!
Sunscreens for kids & sensitive skin – stick with physical sunscreens!
Sunscreens for everyday:
Physical Sunscreens:
Chemical Sunscreens:
Favorite Liquid Sprays:
Notice these are liquid sprays. Please avoid aerosolized sprays, which not only contain a large % of alcohol which can be irritating but are also bad for the environment & require approximately 7 layers to yield the same protection as a cream/lotion/liquid.
Favorite Sunscreen Sticks & Brushes:
UPF Clothing/Accessories:
We love UPF clothing for ourselves and our entire families. It’s a great way to add protection! A few favorites:
UPF Towel: Wrap it as a sarong, drape it over shoulders/legs when shade isn’t nearby and use it to dry off! These ones from Salt n’ Rays offer UPF 50+ and are awesome for beach and pool days!
For outside activities (running, hiking etc.): Lululemon
For the guys: Patagonia and Southern Tide
For the kids: Check out local surf shops for cool styles they’ll want to wear! Volcom, Billabong and Roxy are our kids’ personal favorites. Old Navy has some great budget-friendly options as well.
Wide brimmed hats! Look for tightly woven material that won’t let sun rays poke through. We love Hat Attack styles and rock them all weekend long from the sidelines of soccer games to the sand!
At the end of day, we want people to remember that we definitely know that unprotected sun exposure can cause skin cancer. A lot is in our control in terms of lifestyle choices and proper SPF use and we want to stress that it is never too late to start daily sun protection; we get more than 50% of our cumulative sun exposure after the age of 40!