It’s summer time!! That means hot days, long days, beach days, and pool days so that equals a lot of sun exposure!
We have so many patients with super duper sensitive skin, also with eczema, and allergies to all sorts of added ingredients. The best sunscreens that provide minimal irritation, sun protection, safety AND stop UV rays from causing free-radical damage in the skin are the mineral based sunscreens with zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide as the main ingredients.
Remember that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade!
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions. And see the end of the post for some of our favorite sunscreens!
What does Broad-Spectrum mean?
It means the sunscreen provides protection from both types of damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation – UVA and UVB. Both contribute to skin aging and skin cancers. UVB is the dominant sunburn and suntanning ray, whether the UV rays come from the sun or a tanning salon, while UVA penetrates deeper into the skin, causing premature aging and wrinkling. The SPF number measures only UVB protection, so you need to make sure your sunscreen specifies UVA protection as well.
Which SPF should I choose?
The sun protection factor (SPF) number indicates the time it will take for UVB rays to redden your skin. We tell our patients to choose SPF 30 or higher because most people do not apply sunscreen as directed.
How often should I apply sunscreen?
Sunscreen wears off, especially when toweling after swimming or sweating, and should be reapplied. Put it on again after 80 minutes of sweating or being in the water. Reapply every 2 hours if you are not wet.
But what about Vitamin D? Isn’t that important??
About 15 minutes of sun in the middle of the day in summer a few times a week will be enough for the body’s vitamin D needs. Diets with egg yolks, fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and fortified milk and cereal can satisfy your vitamin D needs without sun exposure, or you can take supplements of 200 IUs per day up to age 50, 400 IUs to age 70, and 600 IUs over 70.
OK, so now for some of our FAVES (in no particular order):
Vanicream Sunscreen Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 35
Attitude Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance Free SPF 30
Biossance Squalene + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Raw Elements Face + Body Sunscreen SPF 30
Raw Elements Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30
Earth Mama Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40
Badger Sport Sunscreen Cream Unscented SPF 35
Badger Kids Active Sunscreen Cream Tangerine and Vanilla SPF 30
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Lotion Sensitive SPF 30
Thinksport Kids Body and Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion Fragrance Free SPF 30
California Baby Everyday/Year-Round Sunscreen Stick SPF 30+
Honest Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Coola Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
BeautyCounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
And for those of you who just have to have SPRAY SUNSCREEN (but be careful of inhalation which can be dangerous)
Goddess Garden Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30
KINeSYS Fragrance Free Spray Sunscreen SPF 50
Alba Botanical Sensitive Sunscreen Clear Spray Fragrance Free SPF 50
Baby Bum Minral Sunscreen Spray Fragrance Free SPF 50
Babyganics Mineral-Based Sunscreen Spray SPF 30
BeautyCounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist Spray SPF 30