The Environmental Working Group (EWG) posted its fourth annual Sunscreen Guide for 2010, and surprisingly only 39 out of 500 beach and sport sunscreens earned a “green” rating for safety.  All 39 sunscreens contained the either zinc or titanium.

The remaining 92% of suncreens scored either a “yellow” or “red” rating due to one of the following reasons:

1. An SPF rating of 50 or more, which often give consumers a false sense of security and encourages the user to stay out in the sun longer than advised.
2. The sunscreen contains a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, which FDA studies suggest may actually accelerate skin damage and cancer risk.  (Although the studies are non conclusive, for now EWG recommends vitamin A-free sunscreens).
3. The suncreen containcs oxybenzone, which is a hormone-disrupting compound that is absorbed into the skin and enters the bloodstream.
4. The sunscreen product is in the form of a spray or powder that may be harmful to breathe.

Want to see how your favorite sunscreen ranked, or view EWG’s list of recommended suncreens? Visit the website here: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

Summer time is right around the corner, and it’s always a good time to stock up on sunscreen.  In fact, most people don’t realize that sunscreen should be applied every day, year round in order to properly reduce the risk of skin cancers.  According to a survey of 1,000 adults by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 31 percent of Americans reported not using sunscreen while the remaining 69 percent were only occasional users. There are a lot of misconceptions about sunscreen use, and hopefully this article will help dispel some of those myths.

All sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Not true.  The word SPF stands for sun protection factor.  The SPF rating only applies to UVB protection. Sunscreen manufacturers often make inaccurate claims about UVA protection.  When buying sunscreen, look for products that contain avobenzone, mexoryl, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for adequate UVA protection.

Sunscreen only needs to be applied once a day.

Nope. Sunscreen should be re-applied every two hours — especially if swimming or perspiring. Water-resistant sunscreens can lose their effectiveness after 40 minutes in the water.

A bottle of sunscreen retains its potency and effectiveness for a long time.

Not true. The components of sunscreen begin to break down after one year, and is mostly ineffective after three years.  Check the expiration date, and toss out old bottles without expiration dates.

Sunscreens with an ultra high SPF are better than SPF 30 sunscreens .

Not so.  Although a higher SPF number provides for longer sun exposure before getting burned,  SPF 30 sunscreen already blocks 97% of UVB rays, which is suitable for most individuals. SPF’s higher than 30 block only 4 percent more UVB which provides only a marginal increase in protection, and tends to cost more. Sunscreen with an ultra high SPF may be more suitable for individuals who are sun-sensitive, skin cancer patients, and people at high risk of developing skin cancer.

A little dab will do ‘ya.

No it won’t.  The recommended application amount is about one palmful (or one ounce) and it needs to be applied to the skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, so that the skin has time to absorb the lotion to be fully effective.

When the sun is behind the clouds, you don’t need sunscreen.

Yes, you still do.  Up to 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. In addition, sand and snow reflect and magnify the sun’s rays and can result in sun burn and skin damage.

Using sunscreen is enough to prevent skin cancer.

No it isn’t. Even with proper sunscreen usage, your skin still has some exposure to UV rays. Skin cancer prevention works best with a comprehensive sun protection program that includes sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, keeping in the shade, and sun avoidance during the hours of 10 A.M. to 4 PM. And you should completely avoid tanning beds.

 - Cleanse face twice a day with a mild facial cleanser.  Pat dry - never rub.

- Use a humidifier at night while sleeping to keep your lips and skin moist, particularly in dry weather.

- Take Vitamin E supplements daily - the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E protect the skin from free radicals and keep it healthy.

- Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and drink sufficient amounts of water to keep the skin well hydrated.

- Exfoliate your skin on a regular basis.  Gentle exfoliation helps uncover new layers of skin, unclogs the pores, removes dead skin cells, cleans the skin’s surface and help prevent acne breakouts. 

- Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it’s cloudy or you don’t plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you sweat a lot or go swimming, reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof).

- Utilize the power of green tea! Studies have shown that when worn under sun screen, green tea in a cream base may offer additional sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation. Taking green tea extract as a supplement or as a brewed beverage gives the skin the benefits of green tea’s antioxidant and anti-flammatory properties.  Studies have also shown that green tea may increase the skin’s elasticity and suppleness.

Here are some simple skin care tips using green tea:

- Additional sunscreen protection - combine green tea with zinc oxide-based sunscreens.

- Skin toner - brew a batch of green tea, freeze in an ice cube tray and thaw as needed. Moisten cotton ball with thawed green tea and apply to face and neck.

-  Make your own green tea cream using standardized extract as an active ingredient. 

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