What do sunscreens protect against

The FDA continues to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of spray sunscreens. The challenge in using sprays is that it is difficult to know if you have used enough sunscreen to cover all sun-exposed areas of the body, which may result in inadequate coverage. When using spray sunscreen, make sure to spray an adequate amount and rub it in to ensure even coverage. To avoid inhaling spray sunscreen, never spray it around or near the face or mouth.

Spraying the sunscreen into your hands and then applying it can help you avoid inhalation while also ensuring adequate coverage. When applying spray sunscreens on children, be aware of the direction of the wind to avoid inhalation.

In addition to stopping further UV exposure, dermatologists recommend treating a sunburn with:. Moisturizer to help ease the discomfort caused by dryness.

As soon as you get out of the bathtub, gently pat yourself dry, but leave a little water on your skin. Then apply a moisturizer to trap the water in your skin. Drinking extra water. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking extra water prevents dehydration. Allow the blisters to heal untouched. Blisters form to help your skin heal and protect you from infection.

If the blisters cover a large area, such as the entire back, or you have chills, a headache or a fever, seek immediate medical care. With any sunburn, you should avoid the sun while your skin heals.

Be sure to cover the sunburn every time you head outdoors. Video: How to treat sunburn. How to apply sunscreen. Is sunscreen safe? How to select a sunscreen. Say Yes to Sun Protection. How to decode sunscreen lingo. Is your sunscreen really protecting you. References 1 Stern RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in results of an incidence-based model.

Arch Dermatol. Annals of Internal Medicine. Atmospheric sun protection factor on clear days: its observed dependence on solar zenith angle and its relevance to the shadow rule for sun protection.

Photochem Photobiol ; Position Statement on Vitamin D. The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of Cancer : March 1;— World Health Organization. Application patterns among participants randomized to daily sunscreen use in a skin cancer prevention trial.

Who needs sunscreen? What sunscreen should I use? The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use sunscreen that offers the following: Broad-spectrum protection protects against UVA and UVB rays SPF 30 or higher Water resistance A sunscreen that offers the above helps to protect your skin from sunburn, early skin aging 3 and skin cancer.

When should I use sunscreen? How much sunscreen should I use, and how often should I apply it? Don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears and the top of your head. Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. What is the difference between the rays?

UVB rays or burning rays are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass. What type of sunscreen should I use? Creams are best for dry skin and the face. Gels are good for hairy areas, such as the scalp or male chest. Sticks are good to use around the eyes. There also are sunscreens made for specific purposes, such as for sensitive skin and babies.

What is the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens? Is a high-number SPF better than a low-number one? How can I protect my baby or toddler from the sun? Sunscreen use should be avoided if possible in babies younger than 6 months. Can I use the sunscreen I bought last summer, or do I need to purchase a new bottle each year? Does it lose its strength? If you find a bottle of sunscreen that you have not used for some time, here are some guidelines you can follow: The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least three years.

Will using sunscreen limit the amount of vitamin D I get? Who regulates sunscreen? How do FDA sunscreen guidelines affect my sunscreen? Are sunscreens safe? For children over the age of six months, the FDA recommends using sunscreen as directed on the Drug Facts label. Not Usually. The directions for using sunscreen products can vary according to their forms.

For example, spray sunscreens should never be applied directly to your face. This is just one reason why you should always read the label before using a sunscreen product. Note: FDA has not authorized the marketing of nonprescription sunscreen products in the form of wipes, towelettes, powders, body washes, or shampoos.

Not all sunscreens are broad spectrum, so it is important to look for it on the label. Broad spectrum provides protection against both by providing a chemical barrier that absorbs or reflects UV radiation before it can damage the skin.

Sunscreens that are not broad spectrum or that lack an SPF of at least 15 must carry the warning:. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.

The SPF value indicates the level of sunburn protection provided by the sunscreen product. All sunscreens are tested to measure the amount of UV radiation exposure it takes to cause sunburn when using a sunscreen compared to how much UV exposure it takes to cause a sunburn when not using a sunscreen.

The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value. Higher SPF values up to 50 provide greater sunburn protection. As of June , sunscreens that pass the broad spectrum test can demonstrate that they also provide UVA protection. There is a popular misconception that SPF relates to time of solar exposure. For example, many people believe that, if they normally get sunburned in one hour, then an SPF 15 sunscreen allows them to stay in the sun for 15 hours e.

When it comes to sun exposure, however, what you can't see will hurt you. When these high-energy photons strike your skin, they generate free radicals and can also directly damage your DNA. Over the short term, this UV-induced damage can produce a painful burn; over the long term it causes premature aging of the skin, as well as millions of new cases of skin cancer each year.

The shorter wavelength UVB rays don't penetrate deeply into skin; they cause significant damage to DNA and are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer. The longer wavelength UVA rays penetrate the deeper layers of skin, where they produce free radicals. UVA exposure has been linked to premature aging of the skin and immunologic problems.

A sunscreen product acts like a very thin bulletproof vest, stopping the UV photons before they can reach the skin and inflict damage. It contains organic sunscreen molecules that absorb UV and inorganic pigments that absorb, scatter and reflect UV.

To deliver a high level of protection, a sunscreen product must have sufficient quantities of these protective agents and it must optimally deploy them over the skin's peaks and valleys. The term SPF that appears on sunscreen labels stands for Sun Protection Factor, but it is really a sunburn protection factor. Products with a higher SPF allow fewer of the photons that produce sunburn to strike the skin.

In simple terms, you can view an SPF 10 sunscreen as allowing 10 out of every photons to reach the skin and an SPF 20 product as allowing only 5 out of every photons to reach the skin.