Sun Protection
Understanding SPF
An ultra-high SPF rating on a sunscreen label does not offer the additional protection from the sun's harmful UV rays it implies. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measurement of a sunscreen's effectiveness against UVB rays, which cause sunburns. As your SPF increases past 30, your UVB protection increases insignificantly.
A sunscreen higher than 15 or 30 offers a false sense of protection. People stay out in the sun longer and reapply less frequently. They might also apply a lighter coat, which dramatically cuts the potency of the SPF rating. More important than seeking out an ultra-high SPF sunscreen is that you apply sunscreen generously: about one ounce (volume of a shot glass) to the entire body. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours, but if you are going in and out of the water or sweating, you should reapply more often.
Keep in mind, SPF is only half the story. SPF only measures protection against UVB rays, not UVA rays, which cause long-term damage to the skin and contribute to skin cancer. To know if a sunscreen protects against UVA rays, look at the active ingredients listed on the back of the tube. If you don't see Avobenzone, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide, the sunscreen will not protect from UVA damage. All Beyond Coastal sunscreens and lip balms provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. The active ingredients in our sunscreens are combined to provide the protection you really need.
The ABCs of UV Rays
UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye. UV light is made up of wavelengths, classified as UVA, UVB, and UVC.
UV radiation is a proven human carcinogen. Excessive amounts damage the skin's cellular DNA, which can lead to skin cancer. UV radiation is the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancers, which strike more than 250,000 Americans each year.
UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB and cause skin aging and wrinkling. UVA rays don't cause sunburn but hit us steadily throughout the day and year. They can penetrate clouds and windows and are as strong in the winter as they are in the summer. UVA exposure is the most compelling reason to wear sunscreen everyday.
UVB is the chief cause of sunburn and damages the skin's superficial layers. Its intensity varies by season, location, and time of day. In the United States, UVB is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April to October. But watch out in the winter: UVB rays are stronger at higher altitudes and reflect off snow, bouncing up to 80 percent of the rays back to you.
Be mindful: A sunscreen label might claim "Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection" but unless you see the active ingredient Avobenzone, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide on the back of the tube, you are not being protected from UVA rays.
Sun Protection Tips
Sunscreen is only one important part of protecting yourself from the sun. Here are a few important non-sunscreen tips for shielding your family from the sun:
- Limit sun exposure during peak summer hours. Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is most intense.
- Wear protective clothing: a shirt, wide-brimmed hat, and UV blocking sunglasses. White material reflects more of the sun's rays than darker clothing.
- If you feel you are getting sunburned, you already are burned. Get out of the sun or add protection as soon as you start to feel your skin burning.
- Add protective window tinting to your car's side and rear windows, as well as your house windows. This film blocks 99% of UV radiation.
- Avoid tanning booths at all costs! The increased portion of UVA rays means the risk of skin cancer is increased by 75% with frequent use. The truth is that tanned skin means the skin has been damaged.
- See your doctor once a year for a professional skin exam.