Summer's Coming

I came across this story on cnn.com and thought it would be good to pass along. It is a good reminder that sunscreen alone is not enough to protect from the sun and a little common sense, a lot of shade, and tons of water go a long way. Over the last few years, the FDA has recognized that sunscreen on infants is better than an infant in the sun without it. But remember, keep hydrated and keep your babies dehydrated. It doesn't take long for warm weather to have disaterous effects on small babies and young children. Here is the story:

Next time you're scanning the aisles for your summer sun protection, consider that producers of five well-known sunscreen brands are facing a class action lawsuit alleging that their claims mislead consumers about their products' ability to ward off UV rays and prevent skin damage and cancer.

The suit got us thinking: Are we really clear on what sunscreens can and can't do? Maybe not. So we took some of the biggest claims and ran them by experts. You might want to take what they say -- along with the sunscreens they use -- to the beach with you this summer.

Myth No. 1: Sunscreen is all you need to stay safe.

Reality: "Sunscreen is only one part of the sun-protection picture," explains Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "Just slathering it on and doing nothing else isn't going to cut it because, even with sunscreen, there's still up to a 50 percent risk that you'll burn."

You also need to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when sunlight is strongest; cover up with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses; do regular skin self-exams; and get a professional skin evaluation annually. (Health.com: How to spot skin cancer )

Myth No. 2: SPF measures levels of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.

Reality: The SPF (sun protection factor) measures only the level of protection against UVB rays. But several of the 16 active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in sunscreens also block or absorb UVA rays, says Warwick L. Morison, M.D., professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins Medical School and chairman of the Skin Cancer Foundation's Photobiology Committee.

Ingredients include: avobenzone (Parsol 1789), octocrylene, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide, as well as the recently approved Mexoryl SX. Make sure one of these is in your sunscreen, or look for products labeled "broad spectrum," which means they protect against UVB and UVA rays. (Health.com: Remedies for skin-care problems )

Myth No. 3: Some sunscreens can protect all day.

Reality: "Regardless of the SPF or what the label says, sunscreens must be reapplied every two hours," Fusco says. "The active ingredients in most products begin to break down when exposed to the sun." Only physical blockers such as zinc oxide stay potent after two hours, but not all sunscreens are made with these ingredients.

Myth No. 4: Some sunscreens are waterproof.

Reality: The FDA does not recognize the term "waterproof," so don't count on sunscreen to last through hours of swimming. The agency does recognize "water/sweat/perspiration resistant" (which means a product offers SPF protection after 40 minutes of exposure to water) and "very water/sweat/perspiration resistant" (which means it still protects after 80 minutes).

To be safe, reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating. (Health.com: UV-protective clothing )

Myth No. 5: A sunscreen can provide "total sunblock."

Reality: "No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of UV rays," Fusco says. An SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of UV rays, SPF 30 protects against 97 percent, and SPF 50 wards off 98 percent. You should slather two tablespoons on your body a half-hour before going outside, so the sunscreen has time to absorb into your skin


Feel free to convert to an open forum.

[peekawho]

I'm the palest person in So Cal.  My legs are so white they blind people two blocks over.  I don't lay out.  

Thanks for reminding people about sun protection and young children.  

[AndiJ78]

We better not ever get too close together, we likely t blind for mile saround. I, too, am a fair skinned lady. I have a yearly ritual with the suhn, I slather my kids with sunscreen, forget to get myself, burn, peel, fade. My kids remain beautifully fair, and i am freckled!

[AnnieBrooke]

I am pale as a ghost, and was supposed to go to a wedding this weekend in Arizona, to which I would be wearing a sundress and high-heeled sandals and (because they were sandals) no stockings.  Not a good look in AZ, where all the gals are very very tan or they lose their citizenship.  I bought some spray-on leg tanning product, which prodcts always ick me out because they are always sticky and make me think mystery chemicals are acting on me.  I delayed and delayed spraying it on, and finally last night when we were packing to leave, I went outside in the dark and stood on an old towel and sprayed my legs.  (I even wondered if the chemicals would find their way into my breast milk.)  Then I packed and packed, all the time of which my dh was carrying the baby around and goochy-gooing him because he was cranky (had his vaccinations two days earlier).  The packing was going OK but the baby was getting more and more fussy.  Finally after several hours of this kind of thing, I realized it wasn't going to work to take a fussy baby to a wedding anyway.  I told dh, "You go to the wedding, I'll stay home and take care of the baby."  Washed my sticky legs before sleeping, and this morning looked at them -- blotchy, patchy, look dirty in some spots and totally pale in other spots, legs.  :)  Good thing I don't have to wear THOSE legs at a wedding.

[AnnieBrooke]

Andi, I do think we will be goddesses in our old age.  Just PALE goddesses.  LOL

Perty, thanks for the recommendation.  The spray-on stuff is definitely not it. :)

[pertykitty]

jergens makes a great lotion/tanner. you can buy it for fair med or dark skin.  i buy the fair and if you use it everyday for a few days then only every few you get a slight color that is pretty natural. parts of me are tan always and parts are way to light. annie you gave such a great discription i had to chuckle you spraying yourself in the moonlight lol. i hope the baby feels better. i remember the one check up where they give like 8 (ok maybe not that many lol) at one visit he was the worst!! i dont blame him it must feel icky!

[AndiJ78]

I HATE those self tanners, I always come outlooking some freakish shade of orange, no matter how expesnive the product and my ankles and knees look filthy no matter how thin I apply.

I don't blame you for not wanting to go, cranky babies are no fun at a function. But dso take some solace in knowing that when those tan women look like prunes, you, me and peek will look like goddesses with our fair and wrinkle free skin ; )

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I am a red head living in Canada....
I guarantee you that I have whiter legs than all of you.

I had a skin cancer scare in my 20's and have been a fanatic ever since.  Sunblock, hats and big shady umbrellas are my summertime musts.  I am really lucky to have a very shady backyard for my ds to play in.  I have 4 50+ year old maple trees.

I came back from the DR without a tan.  I spent lots of time on the beach, just used sunblock and laid under a cabana.  All my travel mates were burnt and cranky.  I didn'thave a whole lot of sympathy.....