Sunscreens: how to strategize for success and maintain clear, undamaged skin!
We hear about it every day on the news: our atmosphere is changing, temperatures are increasing, the time we spend outdoors is becoming more of a threat to the health of our skin.
Add to this the fact that the ozone layer is threatened and more people move to the sunny Southwest to enjoy active lifestyles and you’ve got a recipe for an epidemic of sun damaged skin.
Our goal is to help you AVOID being a part of this.
First lets deal with some common misconceptions:
Every skin tone can benefit from sunscreen
While people with the darkest skin tones have the least risk, it’s true, the lighter your skin tone is, the higher your risk of sun damage and skin cancer due to exposure. There are even mineral sunscreens for darker skin tones now such as EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
In addition skin cancer is often more deadly in people with darker skin tones because it goes longer before it is detected.
Everyone! Please follow a regular schedule of skin checks that include close scrutiny of any moles or any other growths that look suspicious, change in size or shape!
Sunscreen: it’s not just for Summer!
It should be a year-round part of your daily skincare routine. This is not an exaggeration!
We all know that sunscreen is more critical in the summer months when the sun is closer to the Earth, and we are more likely to be outdoors frequently. Since summer is essentially year-round in Southern California (which is why I moved here from the East Coast!), sunscreen should be worn year-round.
This is especially true in summer due to intensity and likelihood of being outside for extended periods at the beach, going hiking, outdoor parties.
Sunscreen may need to be reapplied every 2-3 hours, especially with exercise/sweating or swimming, and when the sun is strongest between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
The only thing that can change is the level of SPF you apply! Here is a simple guideline for SPF by Season:
Winter – 15 to 30 SPF | Spring – 30 to 50 SPF | Summer to 50 – 70+ SPF | Fall – 30 to 50 SPF
Morning application of sunscreen can be achieved easily.
You may already be applying sun protection as most skincare products like moisturizers and foundation make-up provide some SPF.
Definitely use an additional sunscreen if playing tennis, jogging or walking outdoors and be especially diligent if boating or swimming as the water reflects more of the sun’s damaging rays onto your skin.
Developing the habit of morning application is the first step towards protecting your skin all day. Once you develop this habit it’s easy for the rest to fall into place.
Lunch time re-application is necessary.
When leaving work for an outdoors lunch or errands, an easy way to reapply sunscreen is with using a brush on powdered mineral makeup.
Brush application is quick and simple. Reapplication of a mineral powder refreshes your sun protection and refreshes your makeup.
Check out the Glo Minerals collection.
What IS SPF? Which SPF should I use?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF gives an approximation of “how many times longer” it takes to get sunburned vs no protection at all.
For example, an SPF of 30 means you are protected “30 times longer” than you would be otherwise.
Daily use of a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is recommended.
Sunscreen Products we like!
Chemical vs Physical Sunscreens
Yes, there is a difference in sunscreens! Chemical sunscreens, like those found in spray-on and “dry-touch” versions, include ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octisalate, and cinnamates. These physical photo-protectors act by absorbing the sun’s UV radiation, preventing them from reaching the skin. Persons with sensitive skin are more likely to experience skin irritation from chemical sunscreens than physical sunscreens.
Physical sunscreens contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These photo-protectors act as a “reflector” for the sun’s damaging UV radiation. When physical blocks are used on darker skin types, the skin can appear white, or take on bluish or purple hue! To reduce this undesired effect, physical sunscreen products are now available in a “micronized” form.
Physical sunscreens are usually preferred, with an SPF of 30. Below is a quick list of some of the products we like:
Expense vs Benefits of Sunscreen
While most sun damage occurs before the age of 18, when you’re “young and invincible”, continued exposure to the sun’s radiation over the years causes freckling, age spots, wrinkles and premature aging.
Solar radiation also damages skin cells DNA, collagen and elastin, making the skin less capable of repairing itself.
The good news is that when the skin no longer is capable of healing/repairing on its own, laser treatments can be used to “jump start” new collagen growth.
Relatively speaking: Sunscreens are cheap but lasers are expensive!
For more skin care information check out these articles:
- Laser Genesis
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): what is it & what can it treat?
- Purchase exclusive SkinMedica skincare products through our site
We would love to meet you and talk to you about your skincare goals. To set up your free consultation just call (949) 477-9740 or use our handy contact form.
