Samm's Savvy Sun Protection Tips

Friends and I pose for a beach picture in our fashionable, sun-protective clothes. Manasquan Beach, NJ. 2008

After six months of bitter cold and crazy snowstorms, it seems as if the spring weather we have all been yearning for is finally here! For a while, I was afraid that the winter weather was here to stay, since just two weeks ago it felt like the middle of January.

And let me tell you, I have never been so excited for the warm weather as I have been the past couple of days. Walking around campus in a spring romper and sandals is a very nice change of pace from being bundled up head to toe in a long coat, scarf, hat, and snow boots. It is also wonderful to see students throwing Frisbees on the lawns, playing the guitar on the library steps, and having class on the patio. The Barnard Bears have finally come out of hibernation!

While embracing the beautiful, sunny days and spending more time outside, I am, at the same time, careful to protect myself from the sun. (As I hinted at in my last blog post, “Dangers of the Sun,” I am a tiny bit obsessive when it comes to sun protetion.) Before I head outside to lounge on the lawn* with my books and laptop, I make sure I put on sunblock, a baseball cap, and oversized sunglasses. From a very young age, I have been aware of the consequences that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can have on our health, and so, although I love to spend time outside, I make sure that I do so in a way that is smart and safe. Below are some of my favorite sun protection tips that allow me to stay safe in the sun while still maintaining an air of style and panache.

*Oh, who am I kidding? Whenever I study outside, I avoid the open lawn and sit in the shade of a tree. Nonetheless, sun protection is still very important.

Picking Out a Sunscreen:

Today, the variety of sunscreens in stores is vast. There are lotions, stick versions, and spray-on sunscreens. Coconut, citrus, or tropical fruit-scented ones. Clear, white, and even purple colored versions! Yet, although these are all lovely options, the most important sunscreen quality is the sun protection factor, or SPF. The higher the SPF, the more of the sun’s UVB radiation is reflected from the skin, and the more protected we are from the sun's harmful health effects. (It is important to note that although the amount of UVB radiation reflected increases with SPF number, no sunscreen, not even an SPF 100, can reflect all of it). The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people use an SPF of at least 30, since this reflects about 97% of the sun’s radiation.

When buying sunscreen, it is also of value to buy one that offers broad-spectrum protection. Sunscreens are only required to block UVB radiation, but 95% of the radiation that hits Earth is UVA radiation, which penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and is responsible for aging, skin cancer, and wrinkles. (See my previous blog post for more information on UV radiation.) Broad-spectrum sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB radiation. Additionally, if you spend a lot of time in the water or sweat profusely, it may be useful to use water-resistant sunscreen. Depending on the specific model, water resistant sunscreen preserves its SPF either forty or eighty minutes after water exposure.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you spread one ounce of sunscreen (the volume of a small shot glass) all over your body fifteen minutes prior to sun exposure, and every two hours after that. Sadly though, this advice is hardly followed. According to a 2010 Marist poll, 40% of adult Americans never use sunscreen, and only 9% wear it every day. And for the people who do wear it, many only put on between 25-50% of the recommended dose.

Help change these statistics by making it a priority to use sunscreen every day. After all, sunburn-free and cancer-free skin is always in style.

Is there a difference between sunscreen and sunblock?

So far, I have focused primarily on sunscreen. Although many people interchange the words sunscreen and sunblock, there is indeed a difference between the two. Sunscreen absorbs UV radiation using carbon-containing chemicals. Sunblock, too, absorbs UV radiation, but it also physically blocks and reflects it using titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Due to the presence of these two inorganic chemicals, sunblock usually has a much thicker consistency than sunscreen and is harder to rub in. (This is why lifeguards are often seen with white noses.) Since both sunscreen and sunblock provide similar protection from the sun, you can choose whichever one you prefer more. If you have sensitive skin, however, you may prefer sunblock since it does not contain certain irritating chemicals that are present in sunscreen. This brings me to my next point about toxicity.

Toxicity of Sunscreen

Before I buy any personal care product, such as shampoo, makeup, nail polish, and sunscreen, I check the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics database, Skin Deep, to review the safety assessment of the item. Many cosmetics sold in drugstores and department stores are made with toxic ingredients, and, personally, I try to avoid rubbing such questionable chemicals on to my body. The Skin Deep database makes it easy to check the toxicity of products by rating them on a scale from zero to ten: zero to two have low hazard, three to six have moderate hazard, and seven to ten have high hazard. In listing the ingredients and naming the health concerns associated with each, the database explains why the products received their overall ratings.

When I checked the database for low hazardous sunscreens, many options came up, such as Nurture My Body Organic Sunscreen, Badger Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, and California Baby Super Sensitive Broad Spectrum Lotion, to name just a few. If you are concerned with the chemicals and products that you put on your skin, I highly recommend using this database and even downloading the Skin Deep app on your phone so that can have the database at your fingertips wherever you go.

Sunscreen Fun Facts:

• Expired sunscreen, or sunscreen that has been sitting in your medicine cabinet for over three years, is less effective than new sunscreen, so make sure to check your sunscreen’s expiration date before use.
• Ladies, listen up! Many cosmetic products, such as foundation, primers, and bronzers, now include SPF. This makes sun protection all the more easy and doesn't require any extra steps in your morning routine. Just remember to reapply the SPF every two hours, whether this means reapplying makeup or carefully rubbing a little old-fashioned sunscreen on to your face.

Sun Protective Clothing:

Note: Before you call me a nerd for advocating sun shirts and rash guards, please continue reading. I promise that sun protective clothing can be chic!

Although applying sunscreen is a very important sun protective measure, most of us, myself included, don’t even think about applying sunscreen to parts of our body that are normally covered by clothing. Yet, most clothing, especially light and thin summer clothing, is not a strong enough barrier to block all the UV radiation from the sun, and radiation can still reach our skin. To address this problem, you can either rub sunscreen all over your body before getting dressed or wear ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothes. I prefer the latter! UPF clothing is basically like sunscreen, but in clothing form. The higher the UPF of the clothing, the less radiation is able to penetrate it and reach your body. For instance, a UPF of 30 means that only one thirtieth of the sun’s UVB and UVA radiation is able to penetrate the clothes, and a factor of 50 means only one fiftieth of the sun’s radiation is able to penetrate. If you are looking to buy some UPF clothes, I recommend the company Coolibar, which offers everyday UPF clothing for men, women, children, and infants.

Additionally, if you are into water sports or just need a super cute outfit to lounge around the pool or beach in, protective aquatic rash guards and shorts are your answer! Quicksilver and J.Crew make stylish protective aquatic rash guards and shorts, and now even high-end designers, such as Tory Burch, are realizing the fashion potential of sun protective clothes. Thanks to such trendy outfits, you can be both smart and stylish!

If you still do not love the idea of UPF clothing or if you have a favorite shirt that is not sun protective, then you are in luck. Companies are now creating laundry detergent-like products that increase the UPF of ordinary clothes, so you can continue to wear the clothes you love while still shielding yourself from the sun. One such product is the Sun Guard laundry aid.

Everyone at one time or another has experienced the agonizing pain of a sunburn after a long, fun day at the beach. This is partially because the beach environment, unlike other outdoor spaces such as city streets or house backyards, reflects a large amount of UV radiation back into the sky. In particular, sand reflects about 15% of the UV radiation and the ocean reflects up to 25%. As the UV radiation is reflected up, it hits us once again, thus increasing our exposure. Due to this phenomenon, people at the beach on a sunny day are exposed to higher UV radiation levels and are more prone to getting sunburn than are people who are simply swimming in their backyard pool.

Because of this, I always make sure to pack my essential sun protection items whenever I go to the beach. For me, a wide-brimmed, UPF 50+ hat is an absolute must (see picture at the beginning of the post), as is a pair of sunglasses that filters the sun’s UV radiation. The best sunglasses are ones that filter 99-100% of the sun’s UVA and UVB radiation. Wraparound sunglasses are also advantageous since they prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching the eyes through the sides of the face. And of course, when it comes to sunglasses, the bigger the lenses, the better. (Think Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.)

Other must-haves include a beach umbrella that blocks out UV radiation, stylish sun protective clothing, good company, and a riveting summer read. And of course, don't forget yummy snacks, such as watermelon, sandwiches, and my all-time beach favorite: juicy peaches!

Winter Activity Tips:

Although skiing may seem very different from lounging on a beach, let me tell you from experience that they are very similar when it comes to exposure to high UV radiation levels. As a skier, I learned the hard way just how important it is to put sunscreen on before hitting the slopes. Even though it may be mid-February and below freezing on the mountain summit, exposure to UV radiation is often times much greater than it is on a hot, summer beach, and the chance of getting sunburn is just as likely. If you thought that the reflection of UV radiation from sand and water was astonishing, then you will be shocked to learn that white snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation. Such reflections can double a person’s UV exposure. Additionally, UV radiation levels increase by about 10% with every 1,000 meter altitude increase. Because of such high UV levels on snowy mountains, applying sunscreen to your face, and even SPF lip balm to your lips, before participating in winter activities is just as important as applying it when at the beach.

Additionally, if you frequently take part in snow sports such as skiing, I advise investing in a good pair of goggles that filter out UV radiation. I will be the first to tell you that forgetting to wear goggles and being blinded in the middle of a double-diamond run is not pleasant, or very safe for that matter. As mentioned in my previous blog post, UV radiation can cause photokeratitis, or sunburn of the cornea, and such snow blindness can prevent a skier from seeing, increasing his/her risk of crashing. (Photokeratitis is also of great concern to people who take part in water-sports.)

Of course, such advice can be applied to all sorts of winter activities, such as snowboarding, sledding, tubing, and ice-skating.

I hope that these tips on staying safe and stylish in the sun will inspire you to live more sun-safe and savvy lives. If I, an eighteen-year old girl, can live by these tips and still stay chic, then so can you! If you have any questions regarding sun protection, please comment below.

Picture Credits:

Beach Picture: taken at Manasquan Beach, New Jersey about eight years back. I am the girl in the pink hat and rash guard.

Sunscreen: Joe Shlabotnik (via flickr) and available for use under the CC license

Beach: Eole Wind (via flickr) and available for use under the CC license

Sources:

“Clothing.” Skin Cancer Foundation. n.d

“Essential Outdoor Sun Safety Tips for Winter.” Skin Cancer Foundation. n.d

“Facts About Sunscreen.” American Melanoma Foundation. n.d

Fayed, Lisa. “Sunscreen or Sunblock.” AboutHealth. 15 December 2014

Robertson, Dennis. “When You’re Choosing Sunglasses, Does UV Protection Matter?” Mayo Clinic. 4 May 2013

“Sunscreen use Low Despite Skin Cancer.” Marist Institute for Public Opinion. 16 July 2010

"The Known Effects of UV." World Health Organization. n.d

“UV Radiation.” World Health Organization. n.d

Woerner, Amanda. “Heading to the Beach? New SPF Regulations Issued by the FDA.” Fox News. 23 May 2013