July is UV Safety Month...Part I

Wellness Series: Guide to Sunscreens

By: S.Francesconi, editor | Last Updated: 07/15/2010 12:21

Number 1

Sunscreens have come a long way since the 1940’s, when a young pharmacist developed an early version for U.S. troops fighting on the sun-baked beaches of the Pacific. The stuff had the look and consistency of petroleum jelly, and barely worked against the sun’s harmful rays. These days, sunscreens come in various formulations, from creams to light sprays, with a seemingly endless array of ingredients. When part of a larger anti-sun strategy, many sunscreens are extremely good at protecting skin.

Despite their proven benefits, sunscreens remain misunderstood and underused. Many people believe that sunscreens are just for the beach or for those who burn easily. Some avoid sunscreens out of fear they can cause cancer and other health problems. Many use too little sunscreen to be truly protective.

What sunscreen can do
Suncreens reduce the risk of burning (erythema), photoaging, and tanning. There is no such thing as a “healthy tan”. A tan is just an increase in pigmentation to counter the effects of ultraviolet light, and it is a sign of skin damage. Most important, sunscreens help prevent skin growths called actinic keratoses, scaly patches that, if untreated, can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer. There is less evidence that sunscreens protect against melanoma, the most deadly form, and basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer. However, your risk of melanoma doubles if you have had five or more sunburns at any age, or just one blistering burn before age 20, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Who should use a sunscreen
Anyone who spends time in the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) light can penetrate and damage all skin types. Children and seniors are especially susceptible to sun damage, as are people with fair complexion. One type of UB light is ultraviolet– B (UVB), the culprit behind most sunburns. Ultraviolet-A (UVA) penetrates deeper into the skin, where it causes wrinkling and other signs of photoaging. (Think A for aging, B for burning.) Both UVA and UVB rays play havoc with the skin’s DNA and thus can promote cancer.

Sunscreens are especially important for people who are highly sensitive to sunlight. Many medications cause this photosensitivity, including some antibiotics, a few older antidepressants, and various drugs for high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. So can herbs such a St. John’s wort and saw palmetto. In addition, some medical conditions - in particular, autoimmune diseases like lupus and Crohn’s disease - make people more sensitive to the sun.

Source: UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, July 2010

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