Slathering on sunscreen every day is not a step most dudes are apt to do, because skin health isn’t something they think about…until they start hitting middle age. When the wrinkles and crow’s feet start to creep across our faces, vanity rears up and offers a sobering slap. As our bodies’ largest organ and the one that is in charge of protecting us from toxins and infections and, yes, the sun’s rays, the skin is an essential part of having a healthy body.
And we know that protecting yourself—whether by putting on a seatbelt every time you get in your car or using a weight belt when hoisting heavy loads in the gym—is just what you do if you want to live your life to its healthiest.
So while you may remember to put on some SPF before hitting the beach, you should think about making it part of your daily routine — and yes, even during the winter. That doesn’t mean to overdo it ala Mark Zuckerberg so you look like Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Here, we’ll run down why applying sunscreen is just as important as putting on some deodorant or brushing your teeth before you walk out the door each day. We’ll also give you some important tips on how to make sure you’re buying the right stuff.
It’s a crucial move, not just for future selfies’ sake, but also to help keep the dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun from potentially causing a deadly cancer like melanoma. “Ultraviolet light from the sun is a known carcinogen,” says Robin Schaffran, M.D., chief dermatologist at BalmLabs and attending staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “So for those who enjoy spending time outdoors, the best thing you can do for the skin is to use sunscreen to help minimize the damage from harmful UV rays.”
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., but it’s also one of the easiest to cure if you catch it in the early phases. Prevention though, is the key to keeping your skin healthy and that’s why shielding it from the sun as much as possible is important. “Sunscreen is important to apply daily, but also other important guidelines to follow when in the sun is to seek shade and wearing protective clothing to reduce your risk of skin cancer,” says Angie Seelal, RPA-C, a physician’s assistant and specialist at Advanced Dermatology PC.
2 of 5
defotoberg
What Should I Look For?
Picking out a proper sunscreen can be a bit overwhelming. When confronted with a pharmacy aisle full of options—SPF, water-resistant, broad-spectrum, natural, mineral, reef-safe, etc.—it’s easy to just grab one that looks like it’ll do the job. But it’s critical to understand the basics so the sunscreen you pick will work for you and your lifestyle, as well as limiting the amount of unnecessary chemicals you put into the environment.
First up is SPF, or sun protection factor. This is a measure of how well the sunscreen ingredients can protect you from UVB radiation (UVB hits the top layers of skin, and is the main cause of sunburn and can contribute to skin cancer). “I usually recommend using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30,” says Seelal. “SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. Higher number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s UVB rays, but there is no sunscreen that can block 100 percent of the sun’s UVB rays.”
SPF 30 is good, general number to look for as it’s sufficient for everyday exposure, like walking the dog and longer outdoor activities like swimming or running. One misconception to be aware of: A higher SPF number doesn’t mean it will last longer, says Seelal, as all levels of SPF will wear off at a similar rate, depending on your activity.
3 of 5
Lightkite
Covering the Broad Spectrum
It’s important to note that SPF only pertains to the protection you’re getting from UVB rays, not UVA radiation, which penetrates deeper into the skin, damaging collagen and contributing to premature aging and skin cancer. For that, you need to make sure the sunscreen offers “broad-spectrum” coverage, meaning it blocks both types of rays.
Take a close look at the main compounds in the sunscreen that combat the sun’s rays. “These active ingredients determine how broad spectrum the sunscreen is and also how the sunscreen feels,” says Schaffran. There are two categories of active ingredients: chemical sunscreen ingredients (these absorb UV light) and mineral sunscreen ingredients (these block or reflect UV light). Chemical ingredients include things like avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate. The mineral sunscreen ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
“Mineral sunscreen ingredients generally provide better protection and are very broad spectrum, but they tend to be heavier, take longer to rub in and may leave a white finish on the skin,” Schaffran says. “The chemical sunscreen ingredients are easier to formulate in lotions, sprays and gels, but some people find these ingredients to be irritating, especially with more sensitive skin.”
Of special note is the new push to include CBD—a non-psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana and other plants that has been shown to reduce inflammation—into sunscreens. Brands like Divios and Dixie Botanicals have recently come out with CBD-infused sunscreens based on promising initial research. Davis Mersereau, co-founder of Divios, after looking at numerous studies, found that CBD seems like a perfect fit for sunscreens. “It’s going to help with inflammation, because it’s essentially stopping damage before it starts. We’ve also discovered that CBD is rich in antioxidants, which means it’s going to fight free radicals, which are in part caused by UV rays.” (Check out the list below for links to two new CBD sunscreens and see how they work for yourself.)
4 of 5
Maridav
How Do You Use Sunscreen?
Along with all of the SPF levels and ingredients to keep track of, how and when to apply sunscreen can be a bit mystifying for some but it’s all pretty simple. For the initial application, it differs depending on the type. Picked up a chemical sunscreen? Apply it about 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun to give the ingredients time to work, says Schaffran. “However, mineral sunscreens work as soon as you apply them, so you can simply apply right before you go out into the sun.”
Also don’t be fooled by claims of waterproofness. No sunscreen is, and they all eventually wash off, says Seelal. “Sunscreens labeled water-resistant are tested to be effective for up to 40 minutes of swimming, while the more water-resistant sunscreens can stay effective for up to 80 minutes in the water.” As a general rule, commit to reapplying sunscreen every 1 to 2 hours while outside and definitely reapply after sweating and swimming, no matter how long the duration of your play.
5 of 5
fizkes
Are Sunscreens Safe?
Claims abound, crazy or not, about the dangers of sunscreen. People say they may actually cause cancer, others contend that some ingredients may contribute to the killing of coral reefs when washed off in the ocean, or even that those now-ubiquitous sunscreen sprays could end up harming your lungs if inhaled.
The truth is, no one is quite sure if any of the chemicals in sunscreens are as harmful as claimed, but there are a few compounds you should avoid, overwhelming evidence or not. For example, a 2019 study published in the journal JAMA found that some common sunscreen chemicals—avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule—were found in the blood in levels far beyond what the FDA recommends as safe. And this was after subjects applied the sunscreens one time on the first day of the study. But the good news is that with a whole raft of brands and options out there, you can easily skip the sunscreens with some of the more suspect ingredients, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which may cause hormone disruptions when absorbed through the skin and may contribute to the death of coral reefs.
You should also avoid sprays (which are always chemical sunscreens), even though they are easy to apply, because it’s possible that you could breathe in the sunscreen ingredients when you spray a large area or during windy conditions. “The FDA continues to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of spray sunscreens on the environment and on our bodies,” says Seelal. “But to avoid inhaling spray sunscreen, never spray it around or near the face or mouth. Spraying the sunscreen into your hands and then applying it can help you avoid inhalation while also ensuring ample coverage. When applying spray sunscreens on children especially, be aware of the direction of the wind to avoid inhalation.”
