You're packing up for a day at the beach, and the mental list goes something like this: bathing suits, check; hats, check; sunscreen, uh (long pause, head scratch, hurried examination of overflowing cabinet full of bottles of varying expiry dates, SPF levels and formulations). “Check, check and triple-check,” you mutter as three containers of sunscreen get chucked into your brimming bag.
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While you, like many Canadians, get a big check mark for being conscientious about your family's health — we spent a whopping $70 million-plus on sun-care products last year — does sun safety need to be this complicated? Not really, say the experts. Here's all you need to know to make your next sunscreen purchase a smart one.
Sunscreen for everyone!
You've got an infant block for the baby, a kids' waterproof sunscreen for your busy toddler and a couple of adult formulations for you and that stubborn spouse who resists your attempts to cover him head-to-toe — in sunscreen, that is.
But do you really need a separate sunscreen for everyone in the family? Only if you want to — that is, if different family members prefer different formulations or brands. "The differences are not in actual content," says Dr. Lisa Kellett, a dermatologist at SpaMedica in Toronto. "They all contain the same vital ingredients."
Those ingredients are ones that either physically or chemically block ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most sunscreens act below the dead-skin-cell layer of the skin. Examples of ingredients that act this way are Parsol 1789, oxybenzone, octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and octioxate. Physical blockers, such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide, form a layer on the skin's surface that physically shields skin from the sun, offering somewhat superior protection over nonphysical blockers. (While older physical blocks left a chalky white residue on the skin's surface, many, such as Ombrelle Extreme and Clinique CityBlock, are now formulated with much finer microparticles that provide a nearly invisible barrier.)
What does differ from sunscreen to sunscreen is formulation — cream versus foam or spray, tinted versus untinted. With sunscreens available in such a wide range of textures and tones, there's one for every taste. For example, facial formulations contain all the same ingredients as body formulations but are somewhat thinner in consistency; they may feel better, but they protect just the same. So if you prefer a facial formula that doesn't leave your cheeks feeling like they're covered with an oil slick, by all means, use it. Foams and sprays are also less greasy, making them a good bet for acne-prone teens. The bottom line: choose whatever kind of sunscreen you like; just make sure you wear it.
Kids have more fun
While it's true that the content in adult and child formulations is primarily the same, gimmicks such as green tinting, foamy textures and sparkles make application fun for kids, which means your little ones will be more likely to comply, says Dr. Lynn From, a dermatologist and professor of medicine and pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Also, she adds, the bright hues of tinted sunscreens help illuminate bits of baby skin you might have missed.
Tip: Because sunscreens may bleed into your child's eyes, Kellett suggests circling eyes with a wax-based lip balm instead of sunscreen. "The wax in the balm prevents the sunscreen from running into the eyes, and many lip balms come with an SPF, offering added protection." And remember, if your child is under the age of six months, it's best if he avoids the sun altogether.
For the men of the house
The Canadian Cancer Society tells us that while the incidence of most cancers is on the decline, skin cancer is among the few cancers on the rise (the others are thyroid, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and lung and prostate cancers in women and men, respectively). And it seems that more men than women develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Doctors suspect that's because, despite the scary statistics, guys just don't get into the sunscreen habit the way women do.
Many men find applying creams all over their bodies a feminine habit, says From: "It's too girly for them, and others complain that the products are too sticky." For mulish males of all ages — and rebellious teens — who shun sunscreen, she recommends one of the newer sprays that offer good sun protection without all the rubbing (Ombrelle 15 Spray and Life Brand Sport Spray SPF 30 are Kellett's favourites in this category). "Men with lots of body hair find the mists easier to apply," says From. "The product can be spritzed on evenly, penetrating the hair without getting stuck in it."
Tip: Because sprays are made with an alcohol base, they are considerably less greasy than lotions and creams, making them a good bet for teens with acne concerns.
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