Sunscreen Tips To Follow

Now that Queens has finally gotten a taste of some sunny warm weather, residents are looking forward to summer and breaking out the shorts and tank tops. That means more exposure to the sun.
A recent lawsuit in California has many sunbathers questioning the effectiveness of sunscreen products. The lawsuit, filed against five of the most popular sunscreen brands — Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, Neutrogena and BullFrog — on March 30 alleges that the companies exaggerate the effectiveness of their products, specifically how long their products last, how water resistant they are, and how many of the harmful ultraviolet rays they block.
According to Dr. Jordan Zuckerman, attending dermatologist at New York Hospital Queens (NYHQ), with the thinning of the ozone layer, more and more ultraviolet light type A (UVA), and ultraviolet light type B (UVB) rays are reaching earth.
“UVA rays are longer,” said Zuckerman. “They don’t cause you to burn as readily as UVB, but they age skin and cause skin cancer. They are typically used in tanning salons. UVB rays are shorter, causing sun burns and skin cancer.”
Zuckerman concedes that sunscreen is an important product that should be used daily, but cautions that most consumers are not educated when it comes to which to choose.
“The most effective sun blockers are those that contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide,” Zuckerman told The Queens Courier. “These are chemical and physical blockers, but must be applied twenty minutes before exposure and then reapplied carefully every two to three hours depending on physical activity and exposure to water. Look for those with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.”
Zuckerman added that no SPF protects from UVA rays, and suggests that people wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses in the sun.
At the beach, an opaque umbrella is recommended. Parents, he said, might even want to look into SPF-protective clothing for their children.
“Nearly 80 percent of the sun exposure you get in life happens before you are 18,” he said. “If you suffer more than two to three severe sunburns as a kid, you may have an increased chance of skin cancer.”
In addition to these protective measures, Zuckerman recommends seeing a dermatologist at least once a year.