|
|  |
 | I plan to be out in the sun more than usual. What can I do to protect my skin?
|
|  Enjoying the sun safely can be a challenge. Painful sunburn can ruin a vacation, or even worse, increase your risk of wrinkles and skin cancer. Here are some tips to protect yourself from the sun. Cover exposed skin with a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to 30 and that protects against both ultraviolet A and B rays (UVA, UVB). Examples include Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion and >Neutrogena Sensitive Skin. If you plan to swim, water ski, or participate in other activities in and around water, use a "waterproof" sunscreen product such as >Bull Frog. Use a "sweat-proof" or "sport" product like >Coppertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof when participating in activities that cause heavy perspiration. If you want total sun protection for bare skin, your best bet is a sun block like >Neutrogena Sun Block rather than a sunscreen. Sun blocks typically contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
Remember that lips get sunburned, too! Protect your lips with a sunscreen >lip balm that has an SPF of at least 15.
Be wary of the sun even if it isn't shining brightly. About 80 percent of the sun's burning rays can penetrate clouds, mist, and fog.
Preventing sunburn is especially important if you have fair skin that burns easily, blue or green eyes, or a family history of skin cancer. Sun exposure plus one or more of those characteristics puts you at greater risk for skin cancer.
The best sun protection is avoidance. Stay out of the sun when it's most likely to burn you--from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.--and wear a hat with a 4-inch brim the rest of the time.
Protective clothing such as long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat can block burning ultraviolet rays better than any sunscreen. (To make sure the garment will shield you, hold it up to the light and put your fingers inside; if you can see your fingers, you need something thicker.) Dark colors offer more protection.
When outside, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you're in the water or perspiring. Be sure to read the manufacturer's directions on the label of your sun care product.
Use our Sun Care Advisor to help pick the best sunscreen product for your personal profile. We'll point you in the right direction based on your age, skin type, planned activities, and allergic reactions
Sunglasses are always important for eye protection. Choose those that block 99 to 100 percent of the UVA/UVB rays.
Stay away from tanning salons and their "tanning beds." The so-called "non-burning" UVA rays emitted by these devices may actually increase your risk of a serious skin cancer called melanoma.
Sources:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2000.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Merck & Co., 1999.
Kurtzweil, P. "Seven Steps to Safer Sunning," FDA Consumer (February 1997).
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/sunsafty.html. “Safer Sunning in Seven Steps” Updated 01-23-01. last accessed 2/8/01.
"Sunburn Treatment: What works?" http://mayoclinic.com Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 12/14/2006.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2006.
This answer prepared 2/8/2001
This information updated 2/7/2007.
To learn more, please go to:
|
| drug interaction
checker
Is it safe to combine
your medicines?
Find out. |
|
|
Copyright © 1999-2009 drugstore.com, inc. All rights reserved. |
view shopping bag
