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Archive for the ‘Sunscreen’ Category
|Skin Safety Starts With Sunscreen Protection
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Before you set off for outdoor fun this summer, be sure to shield your skin against the damaging effects of the sun. SSDP offers an array of broad-spectrum sunscreens for all skin types, including children and people with sensitive skin.
EltaMD UV FACIAL SPF 30
- Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB Sun Protection
- SPF 30+ with Zinc Oxide
- Specifically formulated to provide moisturizing UV protection for the face, either alone or under makeup
- Light, fluffy moisturizing base with an elegant feel
- For all skin types, especially moderate to dry skin types
- Ideal for use after laser, microdermabrasion and IPL treatments, and chemical and glycolic peels
- Noncomedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free and sensitivity-free
EltaMD UV PHYSICAL SPF 41
- UVA/UVB Sun Protection
- SPF 41 with 9% Zinc Oxide & 7% Titanium Dioxide
- Chemical Free-natural mineral UV protection
- Lightly tinted
- Water Resistant
- Ideal for very sensitive skin and children
- Absorbs quickly and can be used on the face and body
- Antioxidants to neutralize free radicals to help prevent sun damage
- Noncomedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free and sensitivity-free
EltaMD UV SHIELD SPF 45
- Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB Sun Protection
- SPF 45 with 9% Zinc Oxide
- Great for all skin types, especially oily or acne-prone skin
- Specifically formulated to provide oil-free protection for the face, either alone or under makeup
- Light sheer formula that spreads quickly and leaves no residue on skin’s surface
- Noncomedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free and sensitivity-free
Tags: all skin types, broad spectrum sunscreen, children, EltaMD, sensitive skin, SSDP
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Sunscreen Facts and Fictions
Friday, June 17th, 2011
Do you have questions about sunscreen? Many people do. SSDP has put together the following information about sunscreen’s role in protecting your skin. If you want to learn more about protecting your skin from sun exposure, phone 508.535.3376 to make an appointment with one of our Board certified dermatologists.
1)Â Â Â Â Â Does sunscreen help prevent skin cancer?
Unprotected exposure to UV rays from the sun and indoor tanning devices is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Most non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers) develop on sun-exposed areas of the body like the face, ear, neck, lips, and backs of the hands. Episodes of severe blistering sunburns may increase your risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, later in life. Â According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there is strong evidence that regular use of sunscreen significantly decreases the development of precancerous skin lesions (actinic keratoses) as well as squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, a 2010 study of 1,600 adults in Australia found that regular use of sunscreen reduced the risk of developing melanoma by half, including a 73 percent drop in risk for invasive melanoma.
The use of sunscreen is only one part of an effective sun protection regimen. In order to prevent skin cancer and other kinds of skin damage from exposure to UV radiation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking the following steps:
- Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
- Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
2)Â Â Â Â Â How does sunscreen protect the skin?
Most sunscreens work by absorbing, reflecting or scattering sunlight.. When choosing a sunscreen, looking for one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Ingredients that protect against UVA rays include the following:
- Avobenzone
- Oxybenzone
- Titanium dioxide
- Zinc oxide
3)     Doesn’t my body need sun exposure to produce vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a nutrient found in dietary supplements and foods such as salmon, egg yolks, fortified milk, some breakfast cereals, and some brands of orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and soy beverages. The body also makes vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to the sun. Most people meet at least some of the vitamin D needs this way.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends getting vitamin D through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements rather than sun exposure in order to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
4)Â Â Â Â Â Does one need to apply sunscreen on cloudy days?
Cloudy skies do not guarantee protection against sunburn. In fact, serious sunburns can result from sun exposure on cloudy days. The amount of UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface is affected by many factors including: time of year; time of day; weather conditions; altitude; and more. Although thick, dark clouds can block UV radiation, some other types of clouds may actually increase the radiation by reflecting and refracting the sun’s rays back to the ground.
5)Â Â Â Â Â Does a higher SPF provide more sun protection?
Yes, to some extent. UVB protection does not actually increase in proportion to the SPF rating. A sunscreen with an SPF of 2 screens 50% of the sun’s UVB rays while an SPF of 15 screens 93% of the sun’s UVB rays. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 screens 97% of the UVB rays. Sunscreen alone does not offer 100% protection from the sun regardless of SPF. Seek shade during peak daylight hours and wear sun protective clothing in order to prevent sun damage.
Learn more on the website of the American Academy of Dermatology at http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/selecting_sunscreen.html and http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sunscreens.
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Tags: skin cancer, SPF, sunscreen, UVA rays, UVB rays, vitamin D
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