Screen test: Be prepared for sun exposure

Sunsense or nonsense? Know the truth

Here are some common myths about sunscreen and what you need to know.

Myth: You only need a sunscreen if you’re going to the beach or the pool or working outside for long periods of time.

Fact: On those days when you have more than a brief exposure to the sun, you need a good sunscreen – up to 365 days of the year. Even casual or slight exposure to ordinary daylight can cause significant damage – winter included! So make it a habit to apply sunscreen every day – even if it’s cloudy.

Myth: All sunscreens are the same.

Fact: To be effective, sunscreens must protect against both Ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays, which cause wrinkling and leathering of the skin, and Ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays, which cause cancer, including the deadly melanoma. An effective sunscreen must have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and contain one of the following three ingredients:

• Avonbenzone – also known as Parasol 1789
  
  
• Titanium Dioxide
  
  
• Zinc Oxide

If your sunscreen doesn’t have one of these ingredients, throw it out, and get one that does. If not, you’re risking sunburn, long-term skin damage, and skin cancer.

Myth: A little sunscreen goes a long way.

Fact: To protect yourself adequately from the damaging rays of the sun, you need to apply an ounce of sunscreen – enough to fill a shot glass – to cover every part of your body that’s exposed. Apply the sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go out. And be sure to reapply the sunscreen after washing your hands or perspiring or if you’re outside for a long time. Best case, you should apply the sunscreen every two hours.

Myth: The higher the sunscreen’s SPF, the better it is, and the longer you can stay out.

Fact: With sunscreens, higher is not necessarily better. If you burn in about an hour, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 doesn’t mean you can stay in the sun 15 times – 15 hours – longer than normal. The SPF factor only indicates UVB – surface sunburn – protection. And SPFs over 30 don’t offer much more protection from UVB rays. So don’t think an SPF of 45 or 90 is as good as a force field because it’s not! You’re better off to stick with an SPF of 30 and just reapply every 80 minutes to two hours.

Myth: Sunglasses are only for cops and movie stars.

Fact: The sun also can damage your eyes, including causing cataracts, even on cloudy days. Look for sunglasses with 99 percent UV protection.

Myth: A good tan makes you look healthy and younger.

Fact: You may feel that you look better with a tan, but you’re doing extensive damage to your skin that will show up in later years. In fact, sun exposure is the main cause of wrinkles and age-related discolorations. If you protect your skin when you’re young, you can skip the expensive creams and moisturizing lotions in later years. And you’ll have a lot less to worry about when it comes to skin cancer.

Another good idea

Always check sunscreen for an expiration date. The Food and Drug Administration requires sunscreen to work at its capacity for three years. If you use the proper amount, you don’t have to worry about your bottle of sunscreen getting too old.

If you’d like to know more about skin cancer and sunburns, check out the HumanaFirst – Audio Health Library in the Condition Centers under the “Health & Wellness” tab of MyHumana, your secure member Website on Humana.com.

The bottom line

There is no safe way to tan. And every time you tan, regardless of how dark you already are, you damage your skin more, making it age and wrinkle faster and increasing your risk for all types of skin cancer. Use self-tanners if you just have to have that golden glow, but make a daily dose of sunscreen part of your routine. You’ll definitely save your skin, and you may just save your life!

For more information on this article or protecting skin from the sun:

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  
  
• American Academy of Dermatology
  
  
• SPF, UVB, and UVA Protection Explained