The Truth About Sunscreen

We all know how good sunshine feels and we all know how good a tan looks, but we all underestimate the damage that it causes and the risks that it presents. I’m talking about accelerated wrinkling and sagging of the skin and skin cancer, which none of us want.

Sunscreen and You

And the evidence is in, sunscreens help slow  the onset of signs of  aging  and reduce the risk of skin cancer.  But which one to use?  There are so many.  That is  actually good news, there is literally one for everybody.

The most common question is “which SPF do I need?”  I think that for daily use an SPF of 15-20 is sufficient if you are not out in the sun.  If you are going to be out in the sun, use an SPF or at least 30.  The specific chemicals in the sunscreen are not so critical, many different ones are effective, but make sure that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays.  And make sure that you are not using outdated sunscreen.  Splurg a little and buy a fresh bottle.

What Experts Say About Sunscreen

Recent reports have questioned the safety of sunscreen with concerns about them causing  Vit D insufficiency, or the presence of potential harmful chemicals. To date, no studies have found that sunscreens have caused harm in any way to people using them.  That bears repeating, no studies have found that sunscreens have caused harm in any way to people using them.  But I see on a daily basis,and thousands of times a year, people who have suffered serious harm from not using enough sun protection.  So buy sunscreen, and use it daily so that you can stay out of my office.