We’ve all heard of the UVA and UVB spectrums of sunlight. The ones that can create a tan or leave you looking like a lobster! Over time they cause permanent damage to the skin, creating discoloration, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Over-exposure to UVA/UVB increases the risk for a the deadly skin cancer called melanoma.
I spoke with Dr. Beth Comeau, skin care specialist, of Ellicott City, Maryland. We discussed sun exposure and I learned some interesting things.
Did you know that glass gives no protection against the rays of the sun? I believed that I was protected in my car, but not so! Even if you are never outdoors in the daytime, you may rack up hours of exposure in your car. Clouds are no protection, either.
Here is dramatic proof of sun damage to skin, even through auto glass. This gentleman was a truck delivery driver for 28 years. Notice the difference between the left and right sides of his face…some experts say that glass protects, but ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’.
Dr. Comeau also gave me the inside scoop on sunscreens.
I also believed that when sunscreen claimed to protect against UVA and UVB rays, my skin was protected. Not so!
What I didn’t know was that the UVA/UVB spectrums contain many wavelengths. Each wavelength requires a specific ingredient to block it from your skin.
Unfortunately, most sunscreens only block a small portion of the the total wavelengths. The FDA does not require that sunscreens contain the ingredients that block all UVA/UVB rays- just a few of them. So to know if you are really protected from UVA/UVB rays, you must to be a label reader!
The chart below lists all wavelengths within the UVA/UVB spectrums and the blocking agent for each one. You can use the chart to evaluate your sunscreen and see if it does the job of protecting your skin and your health!
Dr. Comeau pointed out zinc oxide as the best ingredient for skin protection. As you can see from the chart, it blocks the largest number of wavelengths. Zinc oxide is a physical, as opposed to a chemical block so it protects without coating you in possible toxins! (Better for the ocean, too!)
Wishing you peace and good health,
Diane
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