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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSunscreen tips for your summer!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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By: Jason Susong, MD, FAAD<\/strong>

Summer will be here before you know it! We at Susong Dermatology are often asked, \u201cWhat is the best sunscreen?\u201d\u00a0Here are some educational facts and our recommendations to help you select a good option for you and your family.<\/p>

You need protection from both UVA and UVB rays, and zinc sunscreen fits the bill.<\/p>

1) SPF matters, but it\u2019s not the only thing<\/p>

- SPF (Sun Protection Factor) relates to how well a product protects against a sunburn.\u00a0SPF 30+ sunscreen is recommended, and that number roughly means you can stay out 30 times longer while wearing it before you get a sunburn. That\u2019s a good start, but there\u2019s a lot more to skin health and preventing skin cancer than not getting burned.<\/li>
- Most sunburns relate to damage from ultraviolet B, UVB, rays (think \u201cB for burning\u201d), and these peak on bright sunny days when sunburn is likely.<\/li>
- Most sunscreens in the US are chemicals that absorb this UVB energy, breaking down into heat, and help protect against a sunburn.\u00a0If you\u2019ve used this type of sunscreen before, you\u2019ve probably noticed that it makes you feel more hot, and it burns if it gets in your eyes.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  Are there better solutions?\u00a0Consider\u00a0this report<\/a>\u00a0of a gentleman who drove a truck for 28 years\u2014the window glass protected him from UVB, but do you note the difference on the left side (driver\u2019s window) of his face?<\/p>
  2) The reason is – UVA matters too!<\/p>
  UVA is actually more present in sunshine than UVB.\u00a0UVA is closer to the visible blue light in the rainbow, and carries less energy.\u00a0Less energy doesn\u2019t necessarily mean it\u2019s safe, though.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"UVA$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"UVA$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  In fact, UVA goes deeper<\/em> into your skin than UVB:<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"UVA$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  UVA also goes through clouds and window glass.<\/li><\/ul>
  3) UVA isn\u2019t blocked well by many chemical sunscreens sold in the US.<\/p>
  Most chemical sunscreens block UVB (to prevent sunburn), and the one good UVA chemical blocker we have, avobenzone, breaks down easily. This constant breakdown of chemicals is one of the reasons you have to reapply sunscreen.<\/li>
  Zinc oxide is the red \u201cZnO\u201d in the chart below, and common chemical sunscreens are represented as black lines. (A wider and taller curve is better.)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"UVA$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  Big difference, eh?\u00a0This is just one reason why zinc is our favorite sunscreen ingredient.<\/li><\/ul>
  4) Want some more reasons zinc is so great?<\/p>
  Zinc doesn\u2019t get absorbed through your skin.\u00a0Numerous studies show<\/a> that chemical sunscreens are absorbed in your bloodstream – and even measurable in your urine – after application on your skin.\u00a0To date, the health implications of chemical sunscreens aren\u2019t completely known.<\/li>
  Zinc sunscreens don\u2019t burn your eyes when you sweat.<\/li>
  Zinc sunscreens are made from a metal, not a chemical.\u00a0They don\u2019t break down over time (though you should still reapply during activity as you can sweat or wash them off).<\/li>
  Zinc is well tolerated on irritated or acne-prone skin (remember what you put on diaper rash? Zinc Oxide!).\u00a0They are well tolerated with acne.<\/li>
  If you are traveling to an area with coral reefs, zinc sunscreens are safe for the environment (many areas have banned chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone).<\/li><\/ul>
  Because of these factors, we generally recommend zinc-based \u201cphysical\u201d sunscreens over chemical sunscreens. They represent a smaller portion of the sunscreen market, however, and you have to search for them.\u00a0Look at the \u201cActive Ingredients\u201d of your sunscreen for zinc.<\/p>
  Q: Isn\u2019t zinc the old white pasty stuff I used to put on my nose?
  A: No!\u00a0Modern manufacturing has enabled nanoparticle zinc that blends into skin much better.\u00a0You generally have to rub it in more to make it blend, however, and there\u2019s not really a good \u201cspray\u201d option.\u00a0Even so, darker skin types will note a slight dusty hue, so many sunscreens blend titanium to help with this effect, or are tinted.<\/p>
  Q: Don\u2019t I need sun for Vitamin D?
  A: Nope!\u00a0The official recommendation<\/a> from the AAD is that you supplement vitamin D (600 IU for <70 years of age) and avoid the sun.\u00a0Vitamin D requires very little sun to make active and is fat soluble.\u00a0More often than not, low vitamin D is related to increased waistlines rather than too little sunshine.\u00a0Melanoma case rates continue to rise<\/a> in part due to this misconception:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"UVA$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  So, What Sunscreens Do We Recomment?<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The best sunscreen isn\u2019t sunscreen \u2013 it\u2019s a shirt and shade!\u00a0The new sunshirts (also called rash guards or fishing shirts) are very thin material that block UV, keep sweat away, and reflect the heat of the sun.\u00a0You may actually feel cooler wearing one of these light colored shirts than with your shirt off (that\u2019s why many road bikers wear these!).\u00a0For exposed areas, choose a zinc-based sunscreen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Sunscreen$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some of our easily-found favorite suncreens are:<\/p>
  For daily wear (as an aftershave for men or under makeup for women):<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture7\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture8\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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  For activity\/sport\/beach:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture9\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture10\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture11\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Picture12\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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  You can always purchase products anywhere you like. For your convenience, links are provided to representative sites. This article contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not intended to replace the specific advice or diagnosis of a physician. If you have any questions about any medical matter, consult your doctor.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
  By: Jason Susong, MD, FAAD Summer will be here before you know it! We at Susong Dermatology are often asked, \u201cWhat is the best sunscreen?\u201d\u00a0Here are some educational facts and our recommendations to help you select a good option for you and your family. You need protection from both UVA and UVB rays, and zinc […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0},"categories":[10],"tags":[11,12],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1733"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1856,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733\/revisions\/1856"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susongderm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}