Better Health & Living: Article: Don't Put That Sunscreen Away Yet!

Issue: October 2008

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Don’t Put That Sunscreen Away Yet!

Find out why you need protection year-round.

by Bridget Scrimenti

Published in Lowell, MA local spotlight | 0 Comments, Talk about this article »

While our fond summer memories are packed away with beach towels and bathing suits, doctors say not to stash the sunscreen too far away. You should be slathering it on all year.

“The damaging rays of the sun are not limited to summertime,” says Ira Skolnik, MD, a dermatologist at Emerson Hospital in Concord. The sun’s rays may be less intense in winter months, but that doesn’t mean long-term damage can’t occur, he explains.

For example, water, sand, and snow all reflect the damaging ultraviolet rays, so you’re at extra risk at the beach or the pool or when you’re sledding or snowboarding. But with so many types of sunscreen, how do you choose the right one?

Dr. Skolnik recommends wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher in all seasons. “SPF” stands for “sun protection factor,” a measure of how well the sunscreen can protect you from burning. Sunscreens with higher SPFs do offer more protection, but it’s not as much as you might think.

For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 is allowing only 1/15 of the sun’s rays to enter your skin, meaning the sunscreen is blocking 94 percent of the sun’s rays, Dr. Skolnik explains. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is allowing 1/30 of the sun’s rays in and blocking 97 percent of the sun’s rays—only a 3 percent difference.

The most important thing to remember about sunscreen is that you have to reapply it, says Dr. Skolnik.

“What’s much more important than the small differences in the percentages of the SPFs is how often you apply it and reapply it—that’s going to be the key in protecting yourself from the sun,” he says.

The guide isn’t meant to panic people, and noncancerous moles could have one of these characteristics, Dr. Skolnik says.

“The general rule of thumb is, when in doubt, see a dermatologist,” he advises.

The American Academy of Dermatology has an as-easy-as-ABCD way to help you identify suspicious moles:

“A” stands for asymmetry, meaning if you draw an imaginary line down the center, the two sides of the mole do not look the same.
“B” is an irregular or poorly defined border.
“C” means color variation that includes shades of tan and brown, black, and possibly red, white, and blue.
“D” is diameter. Typically, a mole that is bigger than a pencil eraser should be checked by a dermatologist. If a mole looks different from other moles, or if it changes, itches, or bleeds, regardless of the mole’s size, you should make an appointment to have it examined.