38 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • MAY 16, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
7 sunscreen myths a dermatologist
wants you to stop believing
It’s no secret that sunscreen is essential
for protecting our skin from the sun’s
damaging rays. Even on a cloudy day, sunscreen
is important for helping to reduce
early signs of skin aging and skin cancer
when used along with other sun protection
measures. However, not everything
you hear about sun care is true: there are a
number of dangerous sunscreen misconceptions
out there that can lead to potential
issues for the skin down the road.
To cut through the confusion and help
you best protect your skin from the sun’s
harmful eff ects, board-certifi ed dermatologist
and Clinical Associate Professor of
Dermatology at the New York University
Langone Medical Center, Dr. Elizabeth
Hale, who has partnered with Coppertone,
debunks common sunscreen myths:
Myth #1: All sunscreens
are created equal
Truth: To best protect your skin from
both UVA and UVB rays, look for the
words “broad spectrum” when choosing
a sunscreen, which means the product
protects from both forms of UV radiation.
Opt for a product with a minimum
SPF 30, which can help protect you from
approximately 97 percent of the sun’s
damaging rays, and look for a product
that is water-resistant.
Myth #2: Individuals
with darker complexions
don’t need sunscreen
Truth: Having a darker complexion
means more melanin is present in the
skin, but this only works to diff use UV
light to a certain extent and doesn’t protect
from skin cancer and sun-induced hyperpigmentation.
Th e sun can cause damage
to anyone’s skin, regardless of their complexion,
which is why sunscreen is necessary
for people of all skin tones and ethnicities.
If the white residue left behind
from sunscreen deters you from applying
any, opt for Coppertone Sport Clear, a
clear sunscreen with a gel-like consistency
that goes on clear without leaving any
white residue behind. It provides broad
spectrum sun protection in SPFs 30 or 50
and is water-resistant (80 minutes).
Myth #3: Cosmetics
have enough SPF to
keep you protected
Truth: A new wave of makeup products
containing built-in SPF are taking
over the market, but just because you use
these products does not mean you should
skip sunscreen for the day. Foundations,
powders and other beauty products generally
don’t provide adequate protection,
so consider them just added insurance.
Moreover, since we don’t always reapply
our makeup on a regular basis, your skin
is vulnerable for the majority of the day.
To be safe, be sure to apply actual sunscreen
before or aft er your makeup and
reapply throughout the day.
Myth #4: Sunscreen
does not expire
Truth: Digging through old beach bags
and car trunks for sunscreen might seem
cost-effi cient, but using an expired sunscreen
puts your skin at risk. Th e active
ingredients in most SPF products tend to
break down aft er about three years, and
even faster when exposed to high temperatures
and direct sunlight, making the
ingredients less eff ective in protecting you
from sun damage. Not all sunscreen products
come with an expiration date, so try
to keep in mind when the product was
purchased, store it indoors and be on the
lookout for signs of deterioration, including
changes in color, consistency, texture
or smell. If you are not applying sunscreen
regularly, which you should be, make it a
point to restock your sunscreen at least at
the start of each summer.
Myth #5: A base tan will
prevent sun damage
Truth: To prevent further skin damage
our bodies naturally build up melanin,
which is what makes us look tanner,
but this natural protection is nothing
compared to the defense provided by
sunscreen. Any form of skin tanning is
a sign of sun damage. Just because there
are no visible signs of sunburn, UV radiation
and unprotected sun exposure can
still damage the skin, so always make
sure to wear sunscreen and reapply as
directed.
Myth #6: If a sunscreen says,
“water resistant,” I don’t need
to reapply after swimming
Truth: Some performance sunscreens
will say “water resistant” on the bottle,
which is great. However, even these
water-resistant sunscreens need to be
reapplied aft er 80 minutes of swimming
or sweating, and immediately aft er towel
drying. Be sure to check your product
instructions and use and reapply as
directed.
Myth #7: Chemicals in sunscreens
should be avoided
Truth: All of the ingredients used in
sunscreens have been well-studied and
considered to be safe for human use.
In fact, while physical sunscreen ingredients
like Zinc Oxide and Titanium
Oxide are excellent options, the addition
of chemical ingredients can help
improve the spectrum of protection
and make for a better performance sunscreen
option. Th e good news is that
there are many options available, so that
you can make the choice of what’s best
for you.
Having a basic understanding of
sun protection and knowing the truth
behind common misconceptions is key
in safeguarding your skin and reducing
your chances of premature skin
aging and skin cancer. Along with taking
additional measures to protect the
skin, such as wearing a protective hat or
coverup and minimizing time in the sun
when it’s the strongest, applying sunscreen
as directed plays a vital role in
keeping you and your loved ones’ skin
protected and healthy.
For more information on sun protection,
visit www.coppertone.com.
Courtesy BPT
/www.coppertone.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.coppertone.com
