Ah, summer: the great clothes, the long days, the family vacations. It's time to get ready for them all ... while you're at it, though, better prepare for sun exposure and bug bites too. Each season brings its own skin concerns, so let's consider what you can expect during the dog days of summer.
Tanning beds are not better than suntanning. In fact, they may be worse. Tanning beds use UVA rays, which penetrate your skin all the way to the dermis and alter your skin's structure. UVA doesn't cause sunburn like UVB does, though, so many people don't immediately realize the damage they are causing.
In This Issue:
9 Things You Might Not Know
About Sunscreen:
- Do you apply sunscreen as soon as you get to the beach? Well, you get points for effort, but remember that it takes about 30 minutes for sunscreen to adequately penetrate your skin. Put it on at home instead.
- Sunscreen application isn't a once-a-day proposition. Reapply every six hours -- or every hour during direct sun exposure.
- You cannot add SPF -- if you put SPF 15 foundation over your SPF 30 moisturizer, you will end up with the higher coverage, SPF 30. You will not, however, be wearing the equivalent of SPF 45.
You spend lots of energy protecting your skin, but don't forget your peepers! Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement; they'll also keep you from squinting all day. What begin as "wrinkles in motion" -- that is, wrinkles that only appear when you move a certain way -- quickly become "wrinkles at rest" (a.k.a. permanent crow's feet).
- Studies show that most people only use about a quarter of the amount of sunscreen they need! Don't be shy -- slather on a quarter-size dollop on your face, neck, and chest (and determine how much you need elsewhere based on that amount).
- Once you've applied sunscreen to exposed skin, you're all set, right? Wrong. The average cotton t-shirt actually has an SPF of about 5 -- far short of your SPF 15 minimum (or your SPF 45 minimum if you'll be spending extended time outside). If you love the great outdoors, consider investing in sun-protective clothing from websites like www.sunprecautions.com, www.coolibar.com, www.shadyladyproducts.com, and www.tackletogo.com.
- There's more than one type of UV ray. In the past, sunscreens only protected against UVB; these days, though, cosmetics companies realize the importance of protecting against UVA too. To make sure you're covered, look for the term "broad spectrum" or the ingredients Helioplex and Mexoryl (you can find them in certain Vichy, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, and Aveeno products as of 2007).
- The sun is sneaky. UVA rays can penetrate windows (in your car, airplanes, even your office), so there's never an excuse to skip daily sunscreen.
- Sunscreen does expire, so always check the packaging for expiration dates. If you have any sunscreen over six months old, though, don't bother – there are so many new and improved sunscreens as of early 2007, it's best to toss anything older (regardless of expiration date).
- No sunscreen blocks 100% of the sun's rays, so be sure to couple your efforts with avoidance. Nothing says "summer" like a giant beach umbrella!
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Take the Drama Out of Sunless Tanning
Make no mistake:
Unprotected sun
exposure is never
okay, for any type
of skin! But we're
all human, and there
are things you can do to
minimize discomfort after
a UV boo-boo:
Start taking ibuprofen or aspirin right away. Just like they help reduce the inflammation of a sprained ankle, these drugs can reduce the inflammation that comes with a sunburn and help minimize the resulting redness.
Topical anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera and feverfew can also help to immediately soothe discomfort. Sea and Ski's After Sun Therapy is a wonderful option.
Over-the-counter ointments with 1% hydrocortisone may also help heal sunburn.
By now, my feelings about suntanning are abundantly clear -- but I also understand that it's less than ideal to sport those beach outfits when you've been hidden in a cubicle for nine months! Luckily, modern technology has come to our rescue in the form of hundreds of sunless tanning products. Observe a few key steps, and you'll end up with the golden glow of your dreams (and not the streaky mess of your nightmares):
- The active ingredient in self-tanners, called DHA (dihydroxyacetone), reacts with amino acids in your topmost layer of skin. Consequently, the evenness of your tan depends on the evenness of your skin. Always start with an exfoliating scrub to slough off the dead skin cells that can cause a spotty tan and darker orange-brown patches.
- However, be sure to avoid scrubs that include petrolatum or mineral oil, as they are occlusive and can prevent DHA from working properly.
- Apply less self-tanner to the knees, elbows, palms, and feet -- DHA will cause more darkening in places where your skin is thicker.
- Self-tanners with antioxidants (Bliss A Tan For All Seasons, for example) often produce a more natural-looking tan than those without them.
- Neutrogena's Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Lotion is a great way to create a particularly natural-looking tan (there's also a specially formulated version for your face). Fake Bake Self-Tanning Lotion is another one of my favorites -- it goes on dark so you can see exactly where you're applying the product (and avoid those pale patches!).
- Don't use moisturizer for two hours after applying self-tanner, as it can interfere with the pigmentation process.
Many of my patients ask me if there's any difference between self-tanning creams and the spray-on tans that are offered at many spas. When it comes to the active ingredient involved, the answer is no -- all self-tanning products use DHA. However, the FDA has cautioned consumers against unwanted exposure to DHA, including inhaling it or being exposed to it through the eyes, mouth, or mucous membranes. Obviously, you'll need to be more careful about avoiding unwanted ingestion of DHA in a spray-tanning booth than you are while applying a cream at home.
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Dry vs. Oily: Two Sets of Summer Skin Concerns
Warmer days and trips the beach affect everyone's skin -- but not in the same ways.
Dry types, for example, need to be careful not to further inhibit their skin's ability to retain moisture with prolonged dips in the pool or ocean. Chlorinated water is especially drying. If you have dry skin, try to limit your water time. Gently pat dry with a soft towel after swimming, and apply moisturizer immediately (while you're still damp) to help your skin absorb moisture.
Oily types, on the other hand, might miss winter's cooler -- and drier -- air. As the thermometer goes up, so does their skin's oiliness. But don't give in to temptation and skip sunscreen just because it feels too greasy! Instead, try powder or oil-free foundation with SPF (I like Neutrogena's products). And if you don't wear makeup, consider a gel, lotion, or spray sunscreen (like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock or Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion for the face).
As the weather -- and your day-to-day activities -- start to change, just remember to listen to your skin and respond to any changes you notice!
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Shopping List: My Summer Must-Haves
Interested in some of the products I've mentioned? Use these quick links for easy ordering from my online store, where my proceeds always benefit The Dermatology Foundation:
Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Lotion
Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Face SPF 15
Fake Bake Self-Tanning Lotion
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 45
And for products not yet available in the Skin Type Solutions Store (www.BaumannStore.com), try Drugstore.com:
Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion for Face SPF 30
Burt's Bees Bug Bite Relief
After Bite The Itch Eraser for Insect Bites
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Q: I've learned how deal with my typical skin irritation -- pimples and allergic reactions, for example -- but now I have a new issue to contend with: bug bites! Can you help me make them go away so I won't have to spend the summer covering up?
45: Minimum SPF you should wear if you plan to spend the day in the sun.
20: Minutes you should wait after swimming before you expose your skin to sun. (After prolonged exposure to fresh or salt water, skin may become more susceptible to sunburn.)
1: Number of sunburns that may predispose skin to non-melanoma skin cancer and premature wrinkling.
A: Even if you usually skip the black jelly beans, licorice is going to be your new favorite flavor! Used in herbal medicine for four thousand years, licorice root is an effective anti-inflammatory and just the thing to reduce the itching and swelling associated with pesky insect bites. In fact, its effect is similar to that of cortisone, an active ingredient you might have seen in many popular anti-itch creams. Try taking licorice supplements orally when your symptoms are acute or applying topical products like Neova Calming Green Tea Serum. (Summer bonus: The soothing, anti-inflammatory properties of licorice can also treat sunburn symptoms.)
Burt's Bees Bug Bite Relief is also a great product -- it contains camphor and menthol to minimize discomfort, as well as tea tree oil, a natural anti-inflammatory. Ammonia is another ingredient to look for. It temporarily swells the nerves, which quiets them and the itchy sensations they create! You'll find it in After Bite's The Itch Eraser for Insect Bites -- this product doesn't contain an anti-inflammatory, though, so you would need an additional product to take care of redness.
Of course, when it comes to bug bites, prevention is crucial! If you're using sunscreen, be sure to apply it (and let it absorb) before your insect repellant for maximum effectiveness. Avoid scented body products or perfume, as they'll only attract more insects. And if you don't like to use DEET, the active ingredient in many insect repellants, don't simply go without -- citronella is a great natural alternative. It's available in many outdoor candles and lanterns, as well as in essential oil and topical products like Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard.
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Wishing you great skin!
Dr. Leslie Baumann
Do you have a question? Come visit me at www.SkinTypeSolutions.com or
read my Yahoo blog at www.SkinGuru.com
