it's not that hard: Lather on Sunscreen to Protect Skin

Do we really to need go over this again? According to a new JAMA Dermatology study, yes we do.

The scorching report examined some of the best-selling sunscreens on Amazon, to see how well they comply with the American Academy of Dermatology’s basic criteria to protect skin.

The short answer? Not very well.

To be effective, doctors say sunscreen needs to hit these three marks: at least 30 SPF, water-and sweat-resistant and it must block UVA and UVB rays.

Half of the top 10 sunscreens sold by the online retailer came up short when it comes to being water- and sweat-resistant. As it turns out, the reason these products are the best-selling sunscreens on Amazon is because people like the way they smell and feel on their skin. It’s got nothing to do with keeping everyone safe.

“In dermatology, the single most common and most important question we get asked is what sunscreen should I be using?” said Dr. Steve Xu, lead author of the paper published in JAMA Dermatology and a dermatologist at the McGraw Medical Center of Northwestern University.

He declined to get behind any one particular brand but hopes people will check out the study to see how their favorite sunscreen rates.

He says the study’s most important point is that consumers should read the label on each bottle and ensure it covers the big three.

“It’s something we have been saying all along, people don’t use sunscreens the way they are supposed to,” said Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital. “If you’re a family of four, and it’s an 8-ounce bottle, it should be empty by the end of the day.”

To help everyone stay burn-free, we’ve got some tips when it comes to sunblock:

• Use 1-ounce, essentially the contents of a shot glass, every two hours if you’re outside.
• If applying aerosol sunscreen on children, have them cover their faces so they don’t inhale fumes or get it in their eyes. (The FDA continues to evaluate data on aerosols.)
• If you’re an athlete, try a sports gel. It will stand up to sweating.
• If your skin is dry, try a cream.
• If you’re a runner, buy the SPF powder, which can be applied with one hand while running and stored in a runner’s pouch.

 

“Basically there is a sunscreen for everyone,” Day said.

Just don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re being safer with a super high SPF.

“Clinically, anything above 50, there is no evidence that it decreases the risk of skin cancer,” Xu said.