—Kelly L Phillips
Sunscreen works
right away.
FALSE.
T H E F A C T S
If you put sunscreen on
after plopping down poolside, you’re
too late. Sunscreen needs time to bind
to skin; it’s not effective until roughly
2 0
minutes after application.
T H E N E W S
Common outdoor
activities like walking the dog or
driving may seem harmless, but any
time spent outside unprotected has
cumulative, harmful effects, cautions
Dr. Henry W. Lim, chairman of the
dermatology department at Henry
Ford Hospital in Detroit.
T H E B O T T O M L IN E
For everyday
incidental exposure, an SPF15 is fine.
If you’re sitting out or playing in the
sun, use at least an SPF 30.
Once and done.
FALSE.
T H E F A C T S
Most people don’t apply
enough sunscreen or reapply it often
enough, says Dr. Susan Chon, associate
dermatology professor at the
University of Texas M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center. To get the level of
protection listed on the bottle, you’ll
need one ounce (a shot glass) for the
entire body and a teaspoon for the
face. Reapply every two hours and
after swimming or excessive
sweating.
T H E N E W S
When UVA blockers
were first introduced a decade ago,
there was concern about their
durability. Newer, innovative
formulations like Helioplex
(Neutrogena), AvoTriplex (Banana
Boat), Active Photobarrier Complex
(Aveeno), Dermaplex (Skin Effects
by Dr. Jeffrey Dover for CVS), and
SunSure (Hawaiian Tropic) have
helped to photostabilize UVA-
blocking ingredients, keeping them
effective longer and making their
consistencies more appealing and
less chalky feeling.
T H E B O T T O M L IN E
Applied
properly, an
8
-ounce bottle provides
only 5 to 7 whole body applications.
Clothing shields
you from UV rays.
FALSE.
T H E F A C T S
A regular white cotton
shirt only provides an SPF of 5 to 7
(wet, it drops to 3).
T H E N E W S
Invest in shirts, pants,
and hats with built-in UVA blockers
Eye-Q
Ultraviolet light affects more
than just your skin—it can take
atoll on your eyes.
THE EYES
HAVE IT
“People
fear losing their
eyesight above any
other sense,” says
Arizona-based
optometrist
Stephen Cohen,
past president of the
Arizona Optométrie
Association. "When
outdoors, wear a
wide-brim hat and
sunglasses with
UV protection.”
COVER YOUR
EYES
Just because
sunglasses are dark
doesn’t mean they’ll
save your eyes.
Look for a sticker
designating 95 to
i o o
percent UV
protection. ‘The
UV-blocking layer on
sunglasses is a clear
coating; you can
even buy traditional
glasses with that
protection,” says
opthalmologist
Lee Duffner of the
Bascom Palmer
Eye Institute at
the University of
Miami. Like to read
outdoors? Amy Saks
reading sunglasses
are a stylish option;
from $90. Contact
lens wearers should
also switch to
UV-blocking lenses.
Acuvue’s Oasys
lenses block 96
percent of UVA
rays and 99 percent
ofUVB.
PHOTOS: (SUNGLASSES) ANDY LYONS, (SUNSCREENS) TED MORRISON
