Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

We care about your skin too!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

PROTECT YOUR SKIN

Summer is approaching!!!!!! Parents are anxious to let their little ones frolic in the sun. Locals are waiting to have the golf course to themselves. Many are visiting their drug stores to find a suitable sunscreen. The problem is, there are so many ingredients in so many sunscreens it could leave one guessing which is best. You should know, there are two types of sunscreens. First, there are chemical sunscreens which absorb ultraviolet rays. Some chemical sunscreens block UVA and some block UVB. Second, there are physical blockers which deflect the rays (both UVA and UVB) rather than absorb them. Below are some helpful tips recommended by Dermatologists:

1. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (spf) of 15 or higher.
2. Look for the following ingredients on the label to ensure broadspectrum UV coverage
(CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS)
oxybenzone,octyl methoxycinnamate, cinoxate, octyl salicylate, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule (Mexoryl SX).
(PHYSICAL BLOCKERS)
titanium dioxide or zinc oxide
3. Use a water resistant sunscreen

Most chemical sunscreens are not very stable in the sun therefore, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen every two to three hours. Avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. These are the hours when the sun is the most intense. For those who have sensitive skin, sunscreen should contain only the physical sunscreen ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. There is minimal benefit to using an SPF over 30. Consumers should remember that the SPF number only reflects the products screening ability for UVB rays. At present, there is not an FDA approved rating system to measure UVA protection.

A special note to golfers: Lips get sunburned also. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your lips. Most of the body is covered by clothing and a hat however the lips are the least protected especially the lower lip. Not all lip moisturizers contain sunscreen be sure your lip moisturizer contains sunscreen.

Remember: Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.