Sunscreens - which one is best?

With so many sunscreens available on the market, how do you choose which one to buy?

Just ask any dermatologist what they’d bring if they could only have on desert island item, and I guarantee you the answer would be sunscreen. Sunscreen is essential to prevent skin cancer, as well as protection from the signs of ageing, wrinkles and pigmentation. But with a growing market and so much choice, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start when making your purchase.

First of all, make sure you look for a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Protection against UVB is important to prevent skin cancers, and UVA protection will help protect against premature ageing, wrinkles and pigmentation. So you really want both in your sunscreen to ensure you get the best of both worlds.

What does SPF mean?

This is the Sun Protection Factor which protects against UVB rays from the sun, and will prevent skin cancer. The SPF is an indicator of how long the skin would take to redden if the intended amount of sunscreen was applied, versus not wearing it at all. An SPF of 30 means that it would take 30 times longer to burn versus not wearing sunscreen at all. SPF 30 allows approximately 3% of the sun’s rays to hit your skin, versus SPF 50 which allows approximately 2% to hit the skin. This doesn’t sound like a big difference, but thinking about it, SPF 30 allows 50% more of the sun to hit the skin versus SPF 50. But remember, these numbers are only accurate if you are applying as much sunscreen as intended. Which leads us on to the next topic…

Make sure you wear enough of it

Most people definitely don’t wear enough sunscreen. Going away for a week with a 100ml bottle of sunscreen and coming back with half the bottle unused, probably means you haven’t used it in the way it was intended, and haven’t achieved the desired sun-protection. To achieve the desired SPF, you need to apply 2 milligrams per square centimetre of skin. For example, to cover your face and neck, you need approximately two tablespoons of sunscreen (approximately 1 shot glass). A lot more than you’re probably using right?! So however much sunscreen you are putting on, I’d recommend you double up to ensure that you are getting the sun protection that’s intended. And remember, you need to re-apply every two hours, or after you swim, to ensure that you keep up the sun protection over the course of the day.

Sunscreens are broadly categorised into mineral or chemical. They can come as creams, gels, lotions, mists, and sticks. Let’s break down the difference.

Mineral sunscreen

These are also known physical sunscreens. They utilise UV filters which stay on the surface of the skin, blocking sun rays from being absorbed into the skin. The most common ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. They are good for sensitive and acne prone skin. However some find the texture thick and others can leave a white cast, although new modern formulations are excellent, apply easily and look great alone or under makeup.

Chemical sunscreen

These sunscreens transform the UV rays which are absorbed into the skin, into heat. Common ingredients include oxybenzone, avobenzone and octinoxate. The formulations tend to be much lighter and are generally more aesthetically pleasing with less of a white-cast. People with deeper skin tones may prefer these sunscreens. However they can be less gentle on sensitive skin. Some are also considered to be less environmentally friendly and potentially damaging to coral reefs.

Take home message

The most important factor when deciding your sunscreen, is to pick the formulation that you like, will wear, and be happy to re-apply. Go for a broad spectrum screen with UVA and UVB protection, SPF 30 or above. Don’t rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from skin cancer. Make sure you stay out of the sun in the hottest parts of the day, wear a broad-rimmed hat, sunglasses and keep covered up where possible. And don’t forget to re-apply, re-apply, and re-apply.

If you’d like to book in to have your mole checks and discuss sun-protection, please reach out.

For more useful tips, see the links below:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/sun-safety

https://www.eucerin.co.uk/skin-concerns/sun-protection/how-much-sunscreen-to-use