You are the biggest roadblock to a sunscreen's effectiveness. Use these tips to avoid sun damage.
Coat your face and body before going outside. "You don't want to get to the beach, spend half an hour setting up your towel and umbrella, and then sit down to put on sunscreen," says Pinnell. Chemical sunscreens take 20 to 30 minutes to seep into the skin to protect you properly. For a day at the beach, coat your entire body (a bathing suit gives only about an SPF 5 level of protection).
Use it liberally. Studies have shown that using only half the necessary amount of sunscreen can turn what you think is a coating of SPF 30 into no more than an SPF 2.3. "The average person doesn't put on enough sunscreen," says James Spencer, former director of dermatological surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital, in New York City. The proper amounts for complete coverage: a full ounce (one shot glass) on your body, one teaspoon on your face, and another teaspoon on your neck.
Reapply it often. "I don't care if the label says ‘all-day protection,’ and I don't care if it's SPF 432 — it's still gone in two to four hours," says Spencer.
Dressing for Protection
Cover Up: Classic summer clothes, like a tank top and shorts, provide little in the way of sun protection. A basic white cotton T-shirt gives you the equivalent of only about SPF 5 (get it wet and that drops to about SPF 3). The key to sun protection is the fabric's weave: The tighter the weave, the better it blocks UV rays. Color also plays a role. Darker shades absorb UV light, so less radiation makes it through the fabric to the skin. Some companies, such as Coolibar (go to www.coolbar.com to request a catalog) and Sun Precautions (www.sunprecautions.com), offer relatively inexpensive protective clothing that's tagged with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. (UPF refers to the amount of both UVA and UVB protection the fabric provides.)
Wear Shades: Ultraviolet rays are linked to eye cancers and skin cancers on and around the eyelids. Your best defense: sunglasses that offer 99 to 100 percent UV protection. If you buy a pair without the American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance, get them tested. Most eyeglass stores have a photometer that can measure the lenses' level of UV protection. If yours don't measure up, an optometrist can add a UV coating for less than $20. According to Paul T. Finger, M.D., director of the Ocular Tumor Service for the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, in New York City, the color of the lenses doesn't matter, but style does. "Wraparound glasses provide better protection," he says.
Protecting Your Kids
Slather your kids with sunscreen now and they'll thank you later. "Physical blocks, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are preferable to chemical sunblocks for young children because they aren't absorbed into the skin, where they can cause allergic reactions," says dermatologist Laurie J. Polis, director of dermatological services at the SoHo Skin and Laser Dermatology Group, in New York City. Dermatologists' pick: Neutrogena Sensitive Skin SPF 30 ($9 at drugstores). However, doctors caution against using any sunscreen on infants younger than six months. "Babies' skin is extremely susceptible to irritants. Clothing, hats, and umbrellas are the best way to protect them," says Polis.
