SUNSCREEN MYTH-INFORMATION – 7 SUNSCREEN MYTHS BUSTED!

July 5, 2016September 11, 20161 Comment

Overwhelmingly, studies have demonstrated the crucial role sunscreen plays in skin health and in the prevention of skin cancers but still, there’s a lot of myth-information circulating when it comes to sunscreens. These myth-informations periodically make the media rounds, undermining our national sunscreen message of ‘slip slop slap’, and worse, potentially exposing people to the risk of skin cancer…..but not on my watch!

My unwavering stance on sunscreen has always been apply sunscreen rain ,hail and shine!

And in fact…..

Susan says, ‘Sleeping is the only activity, which doesn’t require sunscreen use ! ‘

Even though the Sunsmart message has been around for a long time, still some myths prevail. Responsible for the malingering myths may be due, in part, to the confusion around labelling, ingredients and the types of sunscreens marketed i.e.; physical/chemical and their mechanism of action.

Hitch a ride on my sunscreen high horse whilst I prevent some premature aging, skin cancers and bust a few myths, which have been trotted out by the myth-Informed.

Myth-busting the Myth-understandings…..

# Myth 1 – Its cloudy outside so I wont get burn’t !

Busted Just because it’s a cloudy day doesn’t mean the suns ray’s can’t penetrate cloud cover! 80% of UV rays are able to penetrate through clouds and may be more intense as the sun’s rays reflect off the bottom of the clouds. Remember you don’t need to be in direct sunlight to be exposed to UV rays and also UV rays can penetrate glass, including tinted car windows!

# Myth 2 – My makeup has a sunscreen in it, isn’t that enough?

Busted No! Generally makeups provide very little protection with SPF’s of 15 or less and need to be reapplied throughout the day to be effective….problematic! Why not incorporate your daily moisturiser with an SPF of 30 or above and perhaps choose a mineral based powder for your foundation which can easily be reapplied throughout the day. Don’t forget the rest of your body either. Why not choose a sunscreen, which doubles as a moisturiser and includes an SPF of 30 or higher?

#Myth 3 People with darker skin type don’t get skin cancer!

Busted People of all skin colour get skin cancer! Bob Marley was diagnosed with Melanoma which was found underneath his large toe nail! Darker skin has been evolutionary for people who live in hotter climates to providing a natural protection from the sun’s harsh rays. However the skin’s natural protective properties does not replace the protection provided by sunscreen in order to prevent skin cancer . It’s true darker skinned people do have a lower risk of skin cancer when compared to fairer skinned people but unfortunately diagnosis is generally made at a later stage making for a poor prognosis.

# Myth 4 Solariums provide a great base tan for holidays!

Busted By now most of us now know solariums significantly increase our risk of melanoma and skin cancers and should be avoided at all costs. There is never a safe way to tan, nor can a tan provide any protection from the sun! If solariums were used prior to the age of 35 the risk of acquiring skin cancer rises to almost 60%…..this statistic lead to the banning of commercial solariums within Australia.

# Myth 5 Wearing sunscreen will make me Vitamin D deficient!

Busted Yes, vitamin D is important for overall health but for the majority of skins, walking to the car, or simply hanging the washing on the line can achieve the required exposure needed to synthesise Vit D in our bodies. Dermatologists don’t recommend getting Vit D from sun exposure, preferring food sources rich in Vit D such as fish oil, salmon and sardines, soy milk, eggs, fortified dairy products and mushrooms.If you’re concerned about Vit D deficiency please see your Doctor who may suggest supplementation.

#Myth 6 Sunscreens make me breakout!

Busted If this happens you may be choosing the wrong sunscreen for your skin type! As with any skincare product, sunscreen should be tailored to skin type, activity and environment. Avoid heavy occlusive sunscreens if you’re prone to breakouts and congestion, opting instead for a zinc-based, water-based emulsion which can provide protection in addition to it’s healing properties. Also if you’re sensitive to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) consider buying brands that do not contain the compound.

#Myth 7 Waterproof means it doesn’t need to be reapplied!

Busted Sunscreens labeled waterproof must be able to maintain their SPF rating for 80 minutes of prolonged water exposure. However they do lose their effectiveness especially after excessive sweating, swimming or towelling off, so it’s best practice to reapply every 2 hours and follow the directions on the label.

On repeat……The best sunscreen is the sunscreen you will use, no excuses!

If you’d like to leave a comment for the jockey in this blog, I’d love to hear your thoughts?

ASkinSolutions X

IN THE RING WITH MELASMA

I SCREEN, YOU SCREEN, CAN WE ALL SCREAM FOR SUNSCREEN?

Or do we?

As the doting mother of 2 teenage tennis playing/surfing girls my neverending refrain of “hat and sunscreen”, has finally been heard/understood/acknowledged by my teenage daughters. I’ve also inadvertently serenaded the neighbours with my suncreen rap. Proving more of a challenge is their non compliant , sun loving father who may require more training or perhaps a cochlear implant!

Many of us will be diagnosed with skin cancer in our lifetime, but there’s plenty we can do to lessen our risk.I’ll talk about that in a moment.

First some sobering stats…

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world despite many successful sunsmart campaigns.

Are we desensitised, and is the message still seeing us remembering to lather up? As sunloving Aussies are we sticking our heads in the sand, and assuming the attitude of “it wont happen to me or anyone i know” and “She’ll be right mate“?

In reference to my Meatloaf loving friend, two outta three ain’t bad………….

Well maybe it was ok for Meatloaf but to think two out three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 has me “crying icicles instead of tears“-urgh!. For many of us 70 may feel a long way off, as did turning 50 for me, but it crept up quick and fast, so it’s an accurate prediction a lot of us will be diagnosed with a potentially life threatening skin cancer.

I’m part of this statistic after being diagnosed with a number of lesions including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Statistics show I’m not alone and this is not a group encouraging joiners. These lesions are a result of a childhood spent on beaches and in backyard pools lathered in baby oil chasing the elusive deep rich golden tan which thanks to my Celtic forebears would always remain elusive. Dont get me wrong I still love a rich golden tan, and nothing screams “healthy ” louder than a tan, but I now safely worship at the alter of a spray tan booth!

Thankfully tanning beds have fallen foul of favour as the research shows the use of tanning beds prior to the age of 35 accelerates the risk of melanoma by a staggering 59%.

Over 2000 Australians are treated for skin cancer every day. Do these mind boggling statistics shock us into being smart when exposed to the sun ? The increase in rates of diagnosis of skin cancers suggests not. If those statistics dont shock us into protecting our skins, the latest statistic including the under 25’s might.

Melanoma is the number one cancer killer of this group!

What about Vitamin D?

Yes, vitamin D is important for overall health but for the majority of skins, walking to the car, or simply hanging the washing on the line can achieve the required exposure. Mental equation…..Susan x washing for a family of 4 = synthesising enough Vit D for South East Queensland!

Lets talk about sunscreens.

A physical sunscreen is one that contains zinc or titanium dioxide which forms a barrier on top of the skin,which reflects and scatters UV rays preventing it passing through to the deeper layers of our skin where it can cause damage. Activity and towelling off after swimming removes sunblock so re-application is vital.

A chemical sunscreen interacts chemically within the skin to form a protective barrier. Sunlight is deactivated and degraded after coming in contact with the chemicals in the sunscreen. A chemical sunscreen must be applied 20 minutes prior to sun exposure for it to be effective and reapplied throughout the day. Your skin has a natural SPF, partially determined by how much melanin your skin contains, that is, how darkly pigmented your skin is, but don’t rely upon this for protection from the sun. The SPF is a multiplication factor. If you can stay out in the sun 15 minutes before burning, using a sunscreen with an SPF of 10 would allow you to resist burning for 10x longer or the equivalent of 150 minutes.

“Sunscreens should be viewed as an add on to protective clothing not a substitute,” according to The Australasian College of Dermatologists .There is an armoury of suncreens out there and the decision between a physical and chemical suncreen really depends on your lifestyle.

Broadspectrum sunscreen contain a combination of both chemical and physical sun protection. These are your best bet as they cover all bases.

The best sunscreen is the sunscreen you will use!

If you would like further information on skin cancer or sunscreens please visit www.ASkinSolutions.com.au under our Resource banner or direct a question under our Ask banner.