Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away

Think about what your favorite sunscreens are, or better yet, what the most popular brands are. I bet the first brand names that pop into your head are Coppertone, Banana Boat, Neutrogena, maybe Hawaiin Tropic for some of you. It would figure, since these brands have been used for decades and are more widely advertised than other brands. Everyone knows the little blond, pig-tailed girl on the pink bottle with playful puppy trying to pull down the back of her bathing suit. It’s cute. However, current research done by the Environmental Working Group shows that 4 out 5 suncreens don’t work; and, unfortunately for many people, this includes the all popular brands of Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena, among others. Ironically, these three sunscreens are the industry leaders – all thanks to advertising. I use Neutrogena SPF30 because it comes in a nice bottle, it smells pretty, and it sprays on so I don’t have to physically touch any lotion.

If anyone has watched Live with Regis and Kelly lately and has seen Dr. Oz talk about the dangers of the sun, you know that there are two types of sun rays to beware of – UVA and UVB. UVA are the rays the penetrate deep under the skin and give you wrinkles; UVB are the rays that burn the skin and cause skin cancer. According to Dr. Oz, you should be using sunscreen with SPF30 and only use sunscreen that has a 4-star rating on the bottle. If you are at the beach or pool or playing sports, you need to reapply every 2 hours, which we all know no one does. Also, if you are a heavy sweater – it’s okay, some people just have super glands – you also need to use waterproof SPF. You don’t need to use SPF90 or some ridiculous number like that, the most important use of sunscreen is in the application. If you apply sunscreen in the correct amount and in the correct increments, SPF30 has the same effect as SPF60, etc. Correct amount means you need to lather up so your entire exposed area has a nice, thick, base. This does not mean you need a chalk-white nose, it just means don’t dab a little onto your index finger and spread it out over your stomach. The recommended amount is a shot glass full of lotion for every area of the body (i.e. lower back, arms, chest, stomach, legs, etc.)

The SPF scale only applies to UVB rays, which in a way is good, because those are the cancer catalysts. However, increasing research shows that UVA also might be the cause of skin-cancer. EWG has created the Top 10 Sunscreens List:

1- Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock SPF 30.
2- Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
3- California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance SPF 30.
4- Badger Sunscreen SPF 30.
5- Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum.
6- Lavera Sunscreen Neutral SPF 40.
7- Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 35.
8- UV Natural Sunscreen SPF 30.
9- Sun Science Sport Formula SPF 30.
10- Soleo Organics Sunscreen All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30.

In addition, here’s the Top 10 States that Cause Melanoma, listed by the number of skin-cancer cases recorded for Summer 2007:

1. California – 6,680
2. Florida – 4,380
3. Texas – 3,860
4. Pennsylvania – 3,120
5. New York – 3,070
6. Ohio – 2,390
7. New Jersey – 2,210
8. Michigan – 2,080
9. Illinois – 2,050
10. Massachusetts – 1,820

Of course, the best way to avoid harmful sun exposure is to cover up with clothing, other than tank tops, t-shirts, and shorts. The reality of it is that sunscreen protection actually only lasts from the point of application as little as 15 minutes! So, if your bald, wear a hat with a brim all the way around. Everyone should wear UV protective sunglasses, especially since UV rays are a leading cause of sight loss. Another thing people should remember is sunblock for their lips – people tend to forget them, and they get irritated even faster than the rest of the body. Plus, sun blisters and such are gross – no one wants to have one or see one on someone else, so cover up them puckers!! Also, checking the UV index before going out for the day might be helpful.

After all of this harmful sun talk, the good news is that the sun does the body some good, too! Being in the sun for 20 minutes every day gives the skin vitamin-D, which keeps it healthy. Exposure to sunlight in a protective atmosphere is also beneficial because it increases the release of Serotonin in the brain, which, if you don’t already know, is the chemical for happiness. Seriously. So go on out and enjoy the sun – just so long as you are lathered in 10+ shot glasses full of Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock SPF 30 and are wearing a hat, bug-eye sunglasses, gloves, long pants… just kidding. Hey, I am the one lying on the beach gently spritzing myself with Neutrogena wearing nothing but a little bikini and no sun glasses. I’m not trying to get any tan lines!