How can I pick out the right sunscreen?

The best sunscreen is the one that is easiest for you to apply, remember to carry with you, and check off this list:

  1. Provides broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB rays) coverage. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), UVA rays can prematurely age your skin while UVB rays cause sunburn. Protection from both UVA and UVB rays is important. 
  2. Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher. Dermatologists recommend SPF (sun protection factor) 30 or higher because it will be able to block 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. Higher SPF does not mean it lasts longer! Reapply when needed.
  3. Water resistant. No sunscreen is waterproof. Find one that can protect you for up to 40-80 minutes in the water or when you’re sweating.

 

What can maximize the benefits of sunscreen?

Sunscreen has long been known to be a beach bag staple during the summer. However, it is important to know the proper application of sunscreen to maximize its benefits. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) shares tips on applying sunscreen to ensure full sun protection all day.

  1. Choose the right sunscreen. The list above is great to take with you when you go shopping for your sunscreen. Ones that are tinted with iron oxide have better skin protection from developing dark spots. Iron oxide can protect your skin from the sun’s visible light.
  2. Apply inside and wait. Most people apply sunscreen once they are outside in the sun, BUT it takes approximately 15 minutes for your skin to absorb the sunscreen and protect you. If you wait until you are in the sun to apply sunscreen, your skin is unprotected and can burn. 
  3. Don’t skimp out. Most adults need about 1 ounce or about a shot glass full of sunscreen to fully cover their body. If you are using spray sunscreen, AAD states that a sufficient amount is applied once your skin glistens from it. Make sure to rub the sunscreen well into your skin whether it is a lotion or spray sunscreen.
  4. If it’s showing– it needs sunscreen. Apply sunscreen to all skin that is exposed and not covered by clothing. That includes your neck, face, ears, and tops of your feet. Don’t forget your back! Ask someone to help you or use a spray sunscreen. Your lips need protection too, apply a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30.
  5. Remember to reapply. To actually keep yourself protected when outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours, and immediately after coming out of the water or sweating. 
  6. Check the expiration date. A sneaky skin burner is using an expired sunscreen that you find in a random drawer. Make sure to check the expiration and buy a new one if needed.
  7. Seek shade or extra protection. Try to stay inside between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM because that is when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are the most harmful. If you have to be outside during that time, put on some sunglasses with UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat or a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt or pants for more protection from heat and the sun.

What are the risks of improper sun care?

Sunburn is often the first thing that comes to mind when forgetting to apply sunscreen because of the discomfort and pain. However, sunburn is not the only damage your skin takes in if proper suncare is not done. More severe risk factors such as “sun poisoning” and skin cancer can come from not applying or using sunscreen correctly.

What is the difference between sunburn and sun poisoning?

Sunburn is that familiar warm, tender, painful sensation after a day outside. “Sun poisoning” is not a formal medical term but it is a blistering rash that develops a few hours later from sunburn. This blistering rash may come with chills, extreme thirst, and maybe even nausea. 

How can sunburn be treated?

There are tips that the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends when treating sunburn. To relieve the pain and reduce swelling, take frequent cool baths or showers and consider taking ibuprofen. To soothe the sunburned skin, apply a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy while the skin is still damp from a bath or shower. If your skin blisters, give it time to heal and do not try to pop or pick at them. Blisters form to protect you from infections, keep them clean and apply petroleum jelly on them to protect them while they heal. Lastly, it is extremely important to drink more water than you usually do during this time to prevent dehydration. 

How can sun poisoning be treated?

Treatment will vary depending on specific symptoms. If nausea or dizziness are present, it may be dehydration and it is important to drink plenty of water and electrolytes to rehydrate and keep yourself hydrated. For the burns or blisters, over-the-counter products can help relieve the discomfort and pain: steroid creams (hydrocortisone), pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), and topical antibiotics (Neosporin). Cold baths or cold compresses using a towel drenched in cold water and an ice pack wrapped in cloth can also be helpful. If pain increases over the weeks and symptoms persist, it is important to see a medical provider.

 

How does overexposure to the sun cause skin cancer?

Excessive exposure from these invisible UV rays from the sun or indoor tanning beds can harm the DNA within our skin cells. Since the DNA acts as the blueprint for our cells, a build-up of damage can disrupt normal cell growth processes. This is what causes the development of skin cancer. This may show up as a new spot on your skin that may resemble a mole. There is a way to check to see if that new spot on your skin may be cancerous or not with the ABCDE melanoma checklist:

  1. Asymmetry– the two halves of the mole have different shapes
  2. Border– the edges are irregular, scalloped or blurred
  3. Color– it is not evenly colored and have shades or brown or black or patches of pink or red
  4. Diameter– the spot is larger than 6 millimeters across or about the size of a pencil eraser tip
  5. Evolving– keep an eye on that new spot and see if it is changing in size, shape or color

If that new spot checks off any characteristics on this list, it may be melanoma. It is important to see a doctor right away because prompt testing can allow you to get treatment at an early stage which can make the treatment more likely to be successful.

 

Written by:

Patricia Tanola

PharmD Candidate 2026

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

 

References:

  1. American Academy of Dermatology Association: How to apply sunscreen [Internet]. Rosemont (IL): American Academy of Dermatology Association; [updated 2024 Apr 15; cited 2024 Jul 6] Available from: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/how-to-apply-sunscreen
  2. American Academy of Dermatology Association: How to treat sunburn [Internet]. Rosemont (IL): American Academy of Dermatology Association; [updated 2024 May 20; cited 2024 Jul 8] Available from: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-sunburn
  3. American Academy of Dermatology Association: Sunscreen FAQs [Internet]. Rosemont (IL): American Academy of Dermatology Association; [updated 2024 May 2; cited 2024 Jul 6] Available from: https://www.aad.org/media/stats-sunscreen
  4. American Academy of Dermatology Association: What to look for: ABCDES of melanoma [Internet]. Rosemont (IL): American Academy of Dermatology Association; [cited 2024 Jul 6] Available from: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes
  5. Cancer Research UK: How does the sun and UV cause cancer? [Internet]. London, UK: Cancer Research UK. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/how-does-the-sun-and-uv-cause-cancer
  6. Cleveland Clinic: What you should know about sun poisoning symptoms [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic, 2022 Mar 15 [cited 2024 Jul 6] Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-have-sun-poisoning-4-less-known-facts