One out of five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. About 90 percent of the time, the risk of developing skin cancer is directly related to the amount and intensity of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure one receives from the sun. Those who venture outdoors more often thus should invest the effort into choosing the right sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful UV rays. With regular use of sunscreen, one can lower their risk of skin cancer. But, there’s more to sunscreen than a simple SPF label.
Sunscreen is a must for campers, climbers, water enthusiasts, skiiers, skateboarders, bikers, cyclists, and just about anyone going outdoors. Even short durations outside (like walking to and from your office) can damage the top layers of skin without burning. The result is a quickened appearance of aging - one which can be easily combated with the regular use of sunscreen.
Shop our extensive line of sunscreens at Outdoor Shopping.
Composition
There are 17 ingredients approved by the FDA and are endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology for the composition of sunscreens. These substances are classified as either chemical and physical and are altered based on the manufacturer as well as the type of sunscreens they’re marketing.
Chemical: These ingredients like PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) and cinnamates absorb UV rays and convert the sun’s radiation into heat energy.
Advantages: Can be used by most people who don’t have skin sensitivities
Disadvantages: May irritate the skin
Physical: Also known as ‘mineral’ or ‘natural’, these sunscreens (such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) deflect and scatter the rays before they penetrate your skin
Advantages: Great for people with skin sensitivities, Better for divers or snorkelers, as some chemicals have been proven to damage and bleach coral reefs
Disadvantages: Harder to apply; May leave residue
Beyond those two categories, it’s important to note that SPF ratings apply only to sunburn-causing UVB rays, so choosing ingredients that are effective against UVA rays is worth taking note. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies certain ingredients based on their ability to combat UVA rays.
‘Extensive’ UVA Protection: Avobenzone (a chemical), zinc oxide (a mineral)
‘Considerable’ UVA Protection: titanium dioxide (a mineral); meradimate, sulisobenzone, dioxybenzone, oxybenzone (chemicals)
Some debate surrounds the long-term reliability of avobenzone and possible health consequences of oxybenzone, which is why many folks without skin sensitivities now opt for mineral sunscreens.
Shop for chemical and mineral sunscreens at Outdoor Shopping.
SPF - Sunburn Protection Factor
There’s been debate over the years over what rating of SPF is truly effective as well as what SPF factors are good options for certain outdoorsmen. The basic idea behind the SPF factor is that it gives user a gauge for how well that sunscreen will protect you against UVB rays (the type that cause sunburns). While some may find a minimum SPF of around 15 to be sufficient, any prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful rays requires more protection. Here’s the down and dirty on SPF factors :
SPF 15: Filters out about 93% of UV radiation
Use for: Incidental Exposures (When you are outside for only minutes at a time), Daily protection
SPF 30: Filters out up to 97% of UV radiation
Use for: Prolonged exposures such as climbing excursions, hiking, or outdoor water sports (be sure to opt for water-resistant sunscreens)
SPF 50: Filters out up to 98% of UV radiation
Use for: Thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears, and backs of hands. High-altitude climbers or folks traveling in the polar regions should opt for SPF 50 when possible due to more intense exposures and reflections off of the snow
Many will find that SPF 50 and higher feels greasier and thicker on the skin, so they’ll use SPF 30 or higher on sweat zones (arms and legs) and carry a separate tube of SPF 50 or 50+ to touch up thin-skinned areas. Here’s a quick guide to what’s typically recommended for different outdoor uses:
SPF | General Guidelines | Example Activities |
15 | OK for incidental exposures (30 mins or less) | Everyday Wear |
30 | Good all-purpose SPF |
|
50 | Best for high-intensity exposures or long duration exposures |
|
If you see any sunscreen rated at higher than SPF 50, it’s only offering a miniscule fraction more protection and, thus, is mostly a marketing blunder.
Shop a wide range of SPF sunscreens at Outdoor Shopping.
Choosing a Sunscreen
Once you understand the basics of sunscreens, then it’s time to boil down the facts to distil the perfect sunscreen for you. “The best sunscreen is the sunscreen you like well enough that you’ll use it regularly,” says John E. Wolf, Jr., MD, MA and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In addition, there are many factors that vary from person to person that can influence what type of sunscreen will work best for your situation.
Age: Children and older adults alike may have a harder time applying sunscreens. For kids, applying the sunscreen is half the battle. For older adults, they may have a harder time reaching all exposed areas of the skin. Thus, a great option for anyone who may struggle with application is a spray-on sunscreen, which is available now in both chemical and mineral options. Be sure to avoid inhalation, and don’t spray directly in the face. If you only have spray-on sunscreen on hand, then simply spray some into your hands and rub onto the face or invest in an SPF face stick for easy application. Younger children who have a difficult time with sunscreen can also benefit from a body glove with SPF rating, so there’s never an excuse to forego sun protection.
Sensitive Skin: We touched on this earlier, but folks suffering from acne, rosacea, or any other skin sensitivities will want to opt for mineral sunscreens. The ingredients least likely to cause skin reactions are the physical sunscreens, as well as those made with salicylates and ecamsule.
Dry Skin: For those with naturally dry skin or for hikers, climbers, and campers who will be in areas of low humidity may want to try sunscreens with moisturizing properties. Popular moisturizers include lanolin, oils, and silicones such as dimethicone. Moisturizing sunscreens are often formulated as creams, lotions, or ointments, so look for these terms on the label. There are also sunscreens specially formulated to protect against cold and windburn like the one pictured right.
Skin Tone: We all know that those with fair skin tend to burn more quickly in the sun, so anyone with light skin or who have a history of skin cancer should use sunscreen with SPF 30+ on a regular basis. Individuals with darker skin who tan easily and rarely burn may feel they do not need to use sunscreen. However, like sunburn, a tan is the result of DNA damage from exposure to the sun’s harmful UV radiation. Darker-skinned people may also be wary of using physical sunscreens, especially titanium-based products, because they can look chalky and white on the skin. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15+.
When to Use: Some may think that sunscreens are best used when outdoors in the summer months or during long outdoor excursions, but the truth of the matter is that UV rays can be damaging year-round. Even skiiers and snowboarders use sunscreen because even though they’re mostly covered and traversing in cold regions, the sun’s rays reflecting off of the bright white snow can cause damaging sunburns! Use sunscreen all year long, and simply opt for higher SPF ratings when needed.
Other Options
Technologies have advanced the science behind sun protection, and many sunscreens now come with specialized options to handle any type of outdoor activity.
Broad Spectrum: Your sunscreen should have broad spectrum protection, meaning it effectively protects against significant portions of both the ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) ranges of the light spectrum. Most broad-spectrum formulas contain multiple sunscreen ingredients. 7185015252
Sweat- or Water- Resistant: FDA standards allow sunscreen manufacturers to claim sweat or water resistance for 40-80 minutes, but there’s no such thing as ‘waterproof’. Choose this option if you’re participating in watersports or if you will be sweating a lot.
Design: Sunscreen bottles are not all made equal! If you’re traveling or backpacking, use a carabiner to clip one of our sunscreens designed with to-go capabilities in mind to your pack.
Lip Balms: There are lip balms also designed with sun protection in mind, and anyone in the outdoors who has suffered sunburn on their lips will confirm the importance of a simple stick of SPF lip balm is essential to any outdoor trip.
Bug Repellant: Sunscreen manufacturers cued into the fact that those who use sunscreen are also exposed to other elements like pests. Thus, there are many sunscreens with specialized bug repellants built in to make your outdoor excursion a little more comfortable.
Remember that all sunscreens - like most other products - have an expiration date. Many are designed to run at original strength for up to three years, so discard any sunscreen past three years from the original purchase if it didn’t come with an expiration date in print.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying sunscreen generously 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Generally, a liberal application is 1 ounce (30 milliliters) — the amount in a shot glass — to cover all exposed parts of the body. Be sure to rub the sunscreen in well and to reapply about every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
Shop our extensive line of sunscreens at Outdoor Shopping.
