Sunscreens In The News (Again)

Sunscreens are in the news again and it seems the net result will be to confuse more people and may lead to people to stop using sunscreen because of health concerns about the active ingredients in some sunscreens. Let me try to simplify the process of choosing and using - an effective and safe sunscreen.

• Sunscreens must contain one of the following UVA-protecting ingredients in order to be approved for use in the United States: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane). The UVA-protecting ingredient must be listed as an “active ingredient.”


• Make sure the sunscreen is labeled "Broad Spectrum", this means UVA and UVB protection.


• According to the Academy of Dermatology, the sunscreen you use must be at least an SPF 15.


• The SPF number on a sunscreen label tells you only how long you can stay in the sun without burning. If you can normally stay in the sun 15 minutes before you start turning pink, an SPF 15 product will let you stay in the sun for approximately 3 1/2 hours without burning. The formula is 15 (minutes) x 15(SPF) = 225 (minutes), or 3 3/4 hours.


• As a general rule it is best to apply sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure. This gives the sunscreen time to absorb and to spread over and into the skin. Re-apply every two hours.


• The rule is: sunscreens should be the last skin-care product applied. Any product applied over them will dilute the sunscreen's protection.


• If applying liquid foundation, cream/powder foundation, cream foundation, or powder foundation over your sunscreen, smooth it lightly over the skin.
  If your foundation has sunscreen and it's the only form of sun protection you're using, make sure you apply it evenly and liberally. If you blend most of it off or apply only a thin layer, you will not get the amount of protection listed on the label. Also, don't forget to apply sunscreen to your neck and other exposed areas such as your décolletége and hands.


• Powders with sunscreen are are not recommended for complete sun protection for the face, but they are great to touch up your makeup during the day and reapply sunscreen at the same time. Apply the powder so as to completely and evenly cover the face.

The benefits of using sunscreen outweigh any potential risk from the active ingredients in sunscreens. The research which the current claims are based on are not supported by published research or only on research which was performed on animals or in vitro (petri dishes). As for use on humans, the research is reassuring.
The Therapeutics Research Unit at the University of Queensland Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (July-August 2005, pages 170-174) an extensive study which noted that "The penetration and retention of five commonly used sunscreen agents (avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, oxybenzone and padimate O) in human skin was " too low to cause any significant toxicity to the underlying human keratinocytes [skin]."
The researchers found that penetration beyond the skin cells was undetectable. All sunscreen ingredients (both organic and inorganic), when subject to vitro research ( in petri dishes), show a potential for some problems; however, these problems do not seem to arise in actual usage.