Health Tip: 5 things to look for when shopping for sunscreen
What should you look for – and avoid – when shopping for it?
Whether down the Shore or basking in the yard, it is important to use sunscreen. What should you look for – and avoid – when shopping for it?
So before taking a bottle to the cash register:
1. Read the directions (and plan to follow them as closely as possible)! Skipping the directions could mean that you or your family will be nursing a bad burn because not enough sunscreen was applied or re-applied. Many spray-on sunscreens, for example, are supposed to be rubbed in; if they are not, the user may be left with a spotty protection.
2. Look for "broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection." Sunscreens that only protect against UVB rays, will prevent redness of the skin and sunburn on superficial layers. UVA rays, however, may cause damage in deeper layers. They also may increase the risk of more serious problems such as melanoma. Your best bet is to protect against both.
3. Ask a pharmacist about the active ingredients if you don't know the difference. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists more than 20 active ingredients in over-the-counter sunscreens. A pharmacist can also be helpful in answering questions about the effectiveness of particular brands or products.
4. Check the expiration date to make sure it is still good. Sunscreen may not be effective if it has absorbed heat. If your bottle sat in the sun for hours in the car or at the beach you may want to buy a new one.
5. Remember that you will need to reapply it regardless of the SPF! Just because the SPF number is higher doesn't mean you can bake all day in the sun without a second slathering – or a third, fourth, or fifth.
Daniel A. Hussar is the Remington Professor of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences' Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. His primary interests are in the areas of new drugs, drug interactions, patient compliance, and issues facing the profession of pharmacy.
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