Blog: Everything Under the Sun
WHAT DOES SPF STAND FOR?
Summer is here, and while we should be thinking about SPF all year round, the onset of the warmer season means sunscreen is going to be front and center of our skin care routines. But how much do we really know about sunscreen? What does SPF mean? Does a higher SPF mean better protection? To give us the lowdown on SPF, we turned to dermatologist and MDSolarSciences friend, Dr. Diane Berson, for help in answering some of the questions that confound most of us about sunscreen. What is SPF and how do sunscreen companies measure it? Dr. Diane Berson: The SPF of a product only relates to its protection from the UVB or “burning” rays. The SPF of a product does not mean it protects you from UVA or “aging” rays. Companies use independent testing companies to test the SPF levels in their products in compliance with the FDA testing guidelines. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure that you’re choosing a product that has been tested for broad-spectrum protection (protects from both UVA and UVB). That way, you’ll be protected not only from the immediate effects of sun damage (sunburn) but also from long-term damage that shows up as wrinkles, sunspots and worse–skin cancer. What does it mean when a sunscreen is SPF 50? Dr. Berson: An SPF 50 product protects you from 98% of the UVB “burning” rays that penetrate your skin. Before the FDA introduced its new labeling requirements a few years ago, SPF levels caused a lot of confusion for customers. Some people thought that the SPF number corresponded to the number of minutes the sunscreen protected the skin, the percentage of rays the sunscreen filtered, or other misguided logic. The SPF number theoretically correlates to how long a person can stay in the sun without burning. For example, when wearing an SPF 30, you can remain outside for 30 times longer than if you were unprotected. However, that doesn’t take into consideration your skin type, any toweling, swimming, sweating or the level of the UV index that particular day. Confusing, right? Now, all sunscreens have mandated directions and water resistance testing results visible on their packaging. Sunscreen can either be effective for up to 40 minutes or up to 80 minutes in water. It’s much easier for people to understand the need to reapply at least every 2 hours. You should reapply every 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, depending on the product. These directions are now easily seen on the packaging. Why did the FDA limit the SPF to just 50? What’s wrong with sunscreens higher than 50? Dr. Berson: Since an SPF 50 protects from 98% of UVB rays and nothing offers 100% protection, there is no statistical significance to using an SPF over 50. Products with higher SPF values may be misleading and give consumers a false sense of security. When customers see a product marketed as an SPF 100+, some may think that means they’re protected from 100% of the UVB rays, or that the product will work all day. There’s no such thing as a total sunblock—and all products must be reapplied in accordance with the FDA guidelines. Does a higher SPF mean better protection? Should we all just use SPF 50 then instead of 30 and 15? Dr. Berson: An SPF 50 offers a high level of protection and is best for those with a history of skin cancer or those that are fair skinned or at higher risk for skin cancer. An SPF 15 covers 93% of UVB rays and an SPF 30 covers 97% of UVB rays. There is a fairly big difference between an SPF 15 and 30 but the difference in coverage lessens considerably between SPF 30 and SPF 50. Protection afforded by products over SPF 50 is only incremental. What is the easiest way to know if a sunscreen provides proper protection? Dr. Berson: You must look for sunscreens that provide broad-spectrum protection and say so on the label. Only broad-spectrum sunscreens protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Using sunscreen products that contain antioxidants gives you another layer of protection. Wearing sun-protective clothing, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats is also important in total sun protective care. Cover up, slather up and read up! Think about it: we are hardwired to check the nutrition facts on foods before eating them, but we should also always check the drug facts on sunscreens. It’s just as important to understand what we’re putting on our skin to protect us and our families. Now that you’re armed with a higher SPF IQ, it’s time to pack those beach bags and enjoy a fun, sun-safe summer. and remember that your SPF habit should continue in the Fall and Winter!
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HOW TO WEAR SUNSCREEN
You might think wearing sunscreen is as easy as slathering it on your body. However, there a few tips we want to share to ensure that you’re getting the most protection from your sunscreen. Tip #1 : The Forgotten Areas The face, arms and legs get the most love when it comes to putting on sunscreen. However, there are smaller parts of the body that many people forget to put sunscreen on. Places like the tops of your feet, back of your neck, scalp, ears and lips also need sunscreen. The general rule is: Any skin that is exposed to the sun needs sunscreen. Tip #2: The Shotglass Rule On days where you’re going to the beach and exposing a lot of skin, 1.5 oz of sunscreen is enough to sufficiently cover your face and body. No need to guess how much 1.5 oz is, just use a shot glass! It may seem like a lot once you start to fill the glass, but you don’t want to skimp on sunscreen. Inadequate coverage can lead to sunburn and skin irritation. Tip #3: Reapply as needed Have you ever put sunscreen on at the beach and come home with a sun burn 8 hrs later? That’s because you forgot to reapply. Be sure to read the instructions on the back of your sunscreen bottle. It should tell you how often you need to reapply your sunscreen. As you long as you follow those directions, you’ll be maximizing your SPF protection and minimizing the chances of coming home with sun burnt skin.
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WE SEA CHANGE
Sunscreen should be safe for the environment and lawmakers agree! They want our oceans free of Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, two chemicals that are toxic for coral reefs. You probably never thought sunscreen could have an effect on the environment, but it does. Every year 14,000 tons of sunscreen washes off of people and into the ocean. Unfortunately, a lot of that sunscreen contains Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, chemicals that cause coral reefs to bleach. In good health, coral reefs are usually bright blue, green, pink or orange. When they bleach, coral reefs turn white. That is not a good sign. White coral reefs mean their health is severely compromised, making them more likely to die off. Coral reefs are home to 25% of all underwater creatures. We can’t just let them die! So we’ve said sayonara to the killer chemicals that are toxic to coral reefs. Thankfully, we are not alone in this. Some of your favorite beach destinations including, Key West, Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands have passed legislation banning the sale of sunscreens containing Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. We sea change and we’re loving it! When you wear our sunscreen on your next beach trip, swim with pride. Not only are you keeping your skin safe, but you’re keeping the reefs safe too!
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BUSTING MYTHS & TAKING NAMES
You skipped sunscreen way too many times! We get it. It was too gooey, too sticky and left streaks all over your skin. Your sunscreen was a problem. And MDSolarSciences has created the perfect solution. Myth #1: Sunscreen leaves your skin and fingers greasy. We know you tried sunscreens that take forever to rub in and leave your skin feeling oily. At MDSolarSciences, we want you to wear sunscreen that you enjoy putting on. Whether it’s our Mineral Crème SPF 50 or our Quick Dry Body Spray SPF 40, we make sunscreen that leaves your skin soft and smooth. Myth #2: Sunscreen won’t blend in with your skin. Our sunscreens are formulated to work with your skin tone, not against it. When you wear our products, you won’t be left with visible layers of sunscreen on your face. We’re all about the blend! Our sunscreens will blend in seamlessly with light and dark skin tones. The only things you’ll be left with are SPF protection and an extra glow. People marvel at the silky feel of our sunscreens and sun repair formulas. How can something that works so well feel so light and luxurious? We know you thought sunscreens had to be thick and gloopy to get the job done, but we’ve busted those myths.
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