Sunscreen Q&A

According to Environment Canada, skin cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation will be 4 per cent stronger this summer -- and that's a significant increase. Dr. Carmel Anderson, a dermatologist in Kelowna who specializes in skin cancer, and Dr. Lynn From, a dermatologist and skin pathologist at the Women's College Hospital in Toronto, share advice for protecting your skin from those blazing rays.

1. How can I get the most out of my sunscreen?
CA: The biggest thing with sunscreen isn't the SPF number, it's the frequency [of application]. The trick is to apply 20 minutes before you go out and every two hours that you're out. That is way more important than the actual SPF number. And the amount: I try to have so much on that I have a little bit of a glow. Make sure you can see a little bit on your skin. You should put on great big blobs, not little dabs. 

LF: People do not do a bad job on their face, but they often forget their ears, neck, and the front of their chest. I also like the basic message of putting it on first thing in the morning. On a sunny day, even if you think you're just going to go out for 10 minutes but something happens and you're out a lot longer than you think, you'll get a bad burn. So it's better to have the whole family put the sunscreen on in the morning, just like part of getting up.

2. Does sunscreen take 20 minutes to start working?
LF: No. It works to protect you right away. It sticks better if you put it on when you're not sweating, when you're not in a rush, and let it dry. But if you do get caught in the sun, you'll be protected as soon as you put it on. It's just that it will rub off more easily and you'll have to put more on.

3. What SPF level do I really need?
CA: You need protection of 15 or more. But, on average, people who apply sunscreen only apply 25 per cent of the amount needed to give the SPF on the bottle. So I'll throw on SPF 60, and I'm probably only getting SPF 15.

Click to continue for more ways to protect yourself from the sun, in addition to sunscreen...

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4. Do I really need sunscreen on a cloudy day?
CA: Totally. On a cloudy day, 85 per cent of the radiation can get through.

5. But if I wear a hat, I don't need sunscreen, right?
CA: Garbage. If you look at the studies, a hat gives you excellent protection for your head and your forehead, and as you go down to your chin it's about an SPF 3. Another thing is that cement and water can reflect up to 80 per cent of the ultraviolet radiation.

6. Besides using sunscreen, what else can I do?
LF: I actually put sunscreen at the bottom of my list:
1. Plan your day so that you're not outside at the peak UV hours in the middle of the day. You can find the times on The Weather Network.
2. If you are out, look for a clump of trees. If you can get into a place where a couple of tree shadows overlap, you'll get really good shade and that's very protective.
3. Cover up. Wear a hat, and sunglasses that give you good protection around your eyes, and wear pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
4. Then sunscreen. If you've followed points one to three, you probably only need to put sunscreen on your face because the rest of you is covered. It allows you not to have to goop up all over.

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