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Sun Protection

Screening Out the Sun

You wear your sunscreen and make sure your family does too. But are you doing everything you can to prevent burns, wrinkling and skin cancer?

The College of Family Physicians of Canada has some concerns about the use of sunscreens. Although doctors want you to use a sunscreen, they are afraid that wearing one will encourage you to stay in the sun's damaging rays for longer.

Another concern is that some sunscreens protect only against UVB rays, and allow the deeper-penetrating UVA rays to enter the body. Since you are likely to stay in the sun longer when you wear one of these sunscreens, you will be exposed to more harmful UVA rays than you would if you weren't using sunscreen. The message is clear: Wear a sunscreen, but make sure it is broad spectrum, and don't assume it will protect you to the same degree as staying out of the sun.

Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself from sun damage is to stay out of the sun or to wear protective clothing. Using sunscreen should be regarded as a back-up to ensure you do not sustain a burn if you are unable to stay out of the sun or do not have a sun hat and protective cover-up with you.

Always seek shade between the hours of 11am and 4pm. Teach your children that, when their shadow is shorter than they are, they should find a shady place to play, such as a porch or under trees.

Wear protective clothing, including a sun hat and a shirt that covers your shoulders and upper arms. Make sure that your children wear a sun hat and t-shirt. It is also important to wear wrap-around sunglasses with full-spectrum UV protection, since UV light can damage the eyes.

Applying Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be applied at least one half-hour before going outside. This allows it to sink into the skin to provide a protective barrier. The sunscreen should be SPF 15 or higher, and waterproof if you intend going into the water. If you have a child, you may want to use a sunscreen formulated for children. Reapply the sunscreen after swimming.

Remember to apply sunscreen to "neglected areas" such as the top of the ears, the back of the neck and the insteps of the feet. Significantly, these areas are prone to developing skin cancer.

SPF Numbers. What Do They Mean?

All sunscreens that you see on the shelves at London Drugs carry an SPF number. This stands for "Sun Protection Factor". It represents the degree of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays.]

The SPF number indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun when you wear the sunscreen, than if you were to wear no sunscreen at all. For example, if you normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, the application of a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 should allow you to stay in the sun for 150 minutes (10 x 15), without burning.

What About UVA Rays?

The SPF number does not refer to a sunscreen's ability to protect you from UVA rays. Always look for the words "broad spectrum" or "UVA and UVB protection" on the sunscreen bottle and/or packaging. Sunscreens marked this way will provide you with increased protection against harm from the sun.

The following ingredients are common UV blockers in sunscreens: UVB blockers: octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone, padimate O homosalate, octyl salicylate, phenylbenzimidazole, sulfonic acid. UVA blockers: oxybenzone, avobenzone (Parsol 1789). Physical blockers (chemical-free sunscreens): titanium dioxide, zinc oxide. (These reflect UVB and UVA rays and can be safely used by people allergic to chemical sunscreens.)