Sunscreens - Must Have Information

Both the Obagi Nu-Derm® Healthy Skin Protection and Obagi C-Rx® Sun Protection hold The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval as viable physical blocks for protecting against both ultraviolet A rays (A for aging) and ultraviolet B (B for burning) rays. Any physical block including Obagi, should be reapplied every 2-3 hours if in direct sun light and immediately after coming out of the water. The snow, water, and sand reflect more sunlight and result in burning regardless of whether it is overcast or not. Sun protection should be reapplied more frequently during water activities, sweating (hiking) and snow skiing (skiing, snowboarding).

The lighter your skin (less melanin, the bodies own natural defense against burning), the greater your odds for skin cancer. People with fair skin, hair and eyes, are unable to form or retain a tan. Some individuals respond to the sun by freckling or forming uneven pigmentation. This group, like lighter skin individuals, does not retain a tan well. The final group, easily tan and form color when exposed to the sun. Individuals in this group include Hispanic, Black, and Mediterranean skin types. Individuals in this group easily get darker in response to sunlight. This group has the lowest rate of skin cancer, as melanin is in abundant amounts in the skin.

It is a misnomer that applying a sunscreen prevents tanning. Actually, applying a physical block with a minimum of spf 15, will allow a “healthy tan” to form. Melanocytes (color cells) are activated by UVB rays regardless of sunscreen application. With a sunscreen, skin can retain color without burning. Their response to the sun is less traumatic and more controlled when a sunscreen is applied. The trauma that occurs to skin if exposed to the sun without a sunscreen (fairer skin types) results in a burn, followed by peeling, followed by the loss of color. Finally, skin can only retain color formed from sun exposure for a period of 3-weeks. In other words, you have to bake in the sun every 3 weeks to keep up your tan (the whole philosophy behind visiting a tanning salon every 3 weeks). This repeated sun exposure is detrimental to your skin. A tanning salon is NOT a safer way to obtain a tan and should be avoided if you want to keep young and healthy skin.

You should not rely on the sun on a daily basis for your source of Vitamin-D. You are better off eating healthier or taking a supplement than relying on the sun for your Vitamin-D intake.

My personal favorite site for accessing accurate information related to the skin is American Academy of Dermatology’s website at www.aad.org. The public information section of the site offers the most comprehensive, accurate, and reliable information on a wide arrange of topics including acne and skin cancer.

The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval

“If you want to be assured that a sunscreen product is a good one, look for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation on the label. Sunscreen products that have been awarded the seal have met stringent criteria for safety and effectiveness. The Foundation’s Photobiology Committee, comprised of physicians expert in the effects of solar radiation, determines whether a sunscreen satisfies these criteria. To earn the Seal, a manufacturer must prove that its product sufficiently and safely ‘aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin.’” Requirements include 1) A sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or greater. 2) Validation of SPF number by testing it on 20 people 3) Substantiation for any claims that a sunscreen is water or sweat resistant.

- By Sandra Obagi

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