May 3, 2017 3 min read

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As diligent as you may be about applying sunscreen every time you spend time outdoors, especially during the summer months, you may not be doing enough to protect your skin from skin cancer or even melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

About one in five people in the United States is diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, according to Dr. Matthew Petrie, a dermatologist at Commonwealth Dermatology in McMurray. Using the proper sunscreen, however, can not only help prevent skin cancer from occurring, but can also help offset the signs of aging.

“Skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation that is emitted by the sun (or tanning beds),” Petrie notes. “Sunscreen is just one tool that can limit the overall exposure our skin gets from the sun.”

The American Academy of Dermatology offers some helpful guidelines when it comes to choosing the right sunscreen.

First, be sure to choose a sun protection factor (also known as SPF) of 30 or higher. Make sure that the label states “broad spectrum,” and that the label says the sunscreen is “water resistant” or “very water resistant.”

Petrie explains that there are two categories of sunscreen: chemical and physical.

“A chemical sunscreen contains ingredients that absorb ultraviolet radiation, whereas a physical sunscreen contains micronized metal particles that reflect the ultraviolet radiation,” he says. “Both are safe, contrary to what some might have read on the internet, and there has been no evidence of harm to humans. Many sunscreens contain a combination of both chemical and physical ingredients. For those who prefer to avoid chemical sunscreens, however, purely physical ones can be found.”

Petrie recommends to his patients that they apply sunscreen daily, as the majority of sun damage is caused by daily chronic exposure.

“I typically recommend applying a daily moisturizer with SPF 30 sunscreen to the face in the morning to all areas of the body that will be exposed during daily activities. This is sufficient for most people who have an office job or who will be at school.”

For those who will be outside a lot during the day, or whose job requires outdoor work, Petrie recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours. “The chemical ingredients in sunscreen start to degrade as they are exposed to ultraviolet light,” he explains. “Sweating also can cause sunscreen to wear off over time.”

But just how much is enough?

Petrie advises that one ounce – about the size of a shot glass – is enough to cover whole body. He recommends picking the formulation (cream, lotion, spray) that is most convenient. “The best sunscreen is the one you will actually use,” he says. “Just be aware that it is easy to miss spots with spray sunscreens, so a double application may be best.”

Sunscreen is just one piece of the sun protection puzzle, however.

Petrie also recommends wearing sun protective clothing, avoiding sunlight during its most intense period of the day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and to seek shade where available.

“There is no such thing as a healthy tan or even a good base tan,” Petrie notes. “During the tanning process, ultraviolet light enters the skin and causes cancerous change, which is detected by the skin. In trying to protect itself, the skin tans. If the color of the skin is changing, you know cancerous change is occurring.”