Sun Protection 2016
Aaron and I recently attended the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting in Washington DC. While there, we were on the hunt for new skin protection products. In addition to the traditional sun protection agents, I have a few new ones and a few new concepts to introduce for 2016. The following are now available at The Spring Boutique!
Klenskin Shower on SPF. Available in a shampoo, body wash and bar soap. I think this is a great addition for men who hate to use sunscreen. Wash in the morning before you head out for golf or sports. This exciting new technology provides SPF 20-30 with 80 minutes of water resistance. It functions as a base layer of protection. If someone is in the sun for an extended period of time they will need to reapply a traditional sunscreen. These products do include chemical sunscreens, but they are encapsulated to minimize interaction of the chemicals with the skin.
Sparkle Screen – Think kids and young women. These have yummy scents – pear, strawberry and tangerine – and a pretty, subtle sparkle. These are just plain fun! I am always looking for ways to encourage young ones to use sunscreen. I hope this will help!
Jungle Screen – This one is a roll on, sunscreen and bug repellent with gold sparkle. It is a chemical-free sunscreen SPF 30 and utilizes Citronella Oil, Vanilla, Peppermint Oil, Cedar Oil and Lemongrass Oil as an insect repellent.
UVO Sun Protection Drink – I am so excited about this amazing and honestly delicious drink. They gave me a bottle to try, and it was dripping down my chin it was so good. (Embarrassing but true.) Drink one bottle or powder pack (1) before sun exposure for 3-5 hours of sun protection from head to toe including your eyes, (2) after overexposure to the sun to help soothe the skin, and (3) daily to repair years of sun damage, provide anti-aging benefits, beautify the skin and promote overall health and wellness. UVO was made for everyone who is exposed to the sun—especially those with an active, outdoor lifestyle. The basic scientific premise is the use of a fern Polypodium leucotomos extract, which has been available for many years in a pill formulation called Heliocare. UVO adds a number of other antioxidants as well.
Fractionated Melanin – This advanced technology available in ZO Skin Health Sunscreens. Fractionated melanin protects against harmful blue light 400-500nm also known high energy visible (HEV) light. Exposure to HEV comes from many sources including the sun, fluorescent and LED lighting, smart phones, computers, tables and more.
General Sunscreen Tips for 2016
Does this photo overwhelm you? It does me. It is the new sunscreen section at Walmart in March 2016. I scoured the whole thing, plus all the other sunscreens, and the second picture is what I would purchase. Just saved you a lot of time!
For sunscreens, I recommend an SPF>30. Make sure the bottle says that it protects against UVA and UVB, preferably 100% of UVA and UVB. Remember that sunscreens generally wear off or the chemical breaks down in 2 hours. So sunscreen needs to be reapplied throughout the day. I particularly like sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Zinc and titanium are physical barriers that work much better and last longer than the chemical sunscreens. Zinc has a more complete and broader coverage than Titanium.
For the face: Fallene SPF 58 and ZO Skin Health Sunscreens. Both of these are available in our office. Also Cerave Face Lotion SPF 50 and Hang Ten Face SPF 30.
Chemical Free for the Body: Cerave Body SPF 50, Neutrogena Pure & free Baby, Aveeno Baby Natural Protection, Yes to Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 and 40, Safe Harbor SPF 50 Sensitive Lotion, Hang Ten Kids Mineral 50. These are the ones I found on a recent trip to our local Walmart. Plus new Sparkle Screen in our office.
Spray Sunscreens WITH Chemicals: In hard to treat areas like the scalp and ears, a spray is better than nothing at all. Make sure you rub it in after spraying. Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70. Elta MD UV Aero SPF 45 this one does contain Zinc oxide in addition to chemical sunscreens.
A wide brimmed hat and protective clothing are also great. I recommend the Coolibar website (www.coolibar.com) for protective clothing. Look for the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval on Sun Protection Products (www.skincancer.org). Protect the eye area further by wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB.