How effective is sunscreen against skin cancer?
Post date: September 28th, 2006Skin cancer is a disease that affects a vast cross-section of the population. An approximated one in five Americans will be diagnosed with a case of skin cancer in their lifetime. Many people believe that simply applying a high-SPF sunscreen will be sufficient protection when it comes to avoiding the risk of skin cancer. However, new studies show that the sunscreens that we trust to protect us against the sun’s harmful rays may not be as effective as we once thought they were.
Sunscreen provides the body with a good layer of protection from UV-B rays. UV-B rays are emitted by the sun, and they are the main entity responsible for people getting sunburns. By wearing a high SPF value sunscreen, you block many of the effects caused by the UV-B rays, and you probably won’t get a burned by the sun. However, most sunscreens do not provide sufficient protection from UV-A rays. Also, people that expose themselves to the sun while wearing sunscreen tend to stay out longer, allowing more and more UV-A rays to penetrate their skin. The increased exposure to the sun’s rays can add up; the risks of skin cancer increase regardless of how many UV-B rays that your sunscreen filters out. The UV-A rays tend to penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin, and they are also known to have a greater potential when it comes to giving you wrinkles or even skin cancer.
To that end, it is important to choose your sunscreen products wisely. If you wish to protect your body against all the rays of the sun, it’s important to choose a sunscreen that features broad-spectrum protection. “Broad-spectrum” refers to the different types of rays that the sunscreen protects against, both UV-A and UV-B. These products are known to help ward off the effects of the harmful UV-A rays better than their common sunscreen counterparts. For the best protection against UV-A rays, you should look for a sunscreen that contains the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and/or avobenzone. It is also important to ensure that the sunscreen that you select has a high SPF value to keep the UV-B rays at bay. As a matter of fact, the SPF value advertised for sunscreens refers only to their ability to block the effects of UV-B rays. When going to the beach, be sure to pick up a sunscreen that is water-resistant. Also, it’s important to reapply the sunscreen regularly to ensure that you are getting a full protection. Another factor to note is how thinly you are spreading the sunscreen. Many people who use sunscreen apply too thin of a layer, limiting the effectiveness of the compound.
While sunscreen may not be as efficient as we once thought, it is still important to wear. They do protect the body against skin cancer, albeit in a limited way. The number of skin cancer diagnoses increase by the year, so it’s important to do all that you can do to protect your body.
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