Quick Tips for Optimal UV Protection

Summer Has Begun; Make Sure You’re Using Sunscreen Properly for Optimal UV Protection!

June is UV Safety Month. We hope you’ve started practicing sun safety so you’re protecting yourself from the UV rays while having fun in the sun! Keep reading for helpful tips on proper sunscreen use.

Tinted Sunscreens

Try a tinted sunscreen, which may help prevent age-related skin damage (thanks to UVA filters), may help to prevent cancer-inducing skin changes (thanks to UVB filters), and may help protect against excess pigmentation (thanks to the color base that blocks visible light). If you are prone to hyperpigmentation or melasma, choose a tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxide, which appears to be particularly effective at blocking blue light.

Expiration Dates
Before applying sunscreen, check the product’s expiration date. If you have sunscreen with no expiration date and can’t recall when you bought it, toss it. Buy new sunscreen and use a permanent marker to write the date you purchased it on the product. Store it at room temperature to maintain its level of protection for three years (even if it’s opened). And regardless of the sunscreen’s expiration or purchase date, toss it if the contents have separated, if it has changed color or if it has a funny smell.

Reapplication Reminders

No matter which brand you decide to use, choose a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Use water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for extended outdoor activities. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the lips, ears, exposed scalp, neck and hands. Apply 1 ounce, or 2 tablespoons, to your entire body 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply it every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.

“Skin Cancer Prevention,” The Skin Cancer Foundation, skincancer.org, accessed June 7, 2021.

“Does Sunscreen Expire?” Trisha Calvo, consumerreports.org, May 16, 2021.

“Tinted sunscreens: Benefits beyond an attractive glow,” Neera Nathan, health.harvard.edu, July 13, 2020.