Sun Smart Series: Five Sunscreen Facts That Could Save Your Skin

Summer in Mississippi means long days, high temperatures, and plenty of time outdoors. Whether you’re heading to the pool, the lake, or just running errands, your skin is exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays every time you step outside.

Most of us know we should be wearing sunscreen, but we don’t always apply it the way we should, or as often as we should.”

“We see a lot of patients who are doing the right thing by wearing sunscreen,” says Richard Price MD, of Price Skin Care Clinic in Ridgeland. “But there are some common mistakes that can make even a good sunscreen much less effective than it should be.”

Here are five ‘Sun Smart’ sunscreen facts that could make all the difference in protecting your skin this summer.

1. You’re Probably Not Applying Enough
This is the most common sunscreen mistake — and one of the most significant. Most people apply far less sunscreen than they need. The skin health professionals at Price Skin Care recommend using about one ounce — roughly a shot glass full — to cover your entire body. For your face alone, a nickel-sized amount is the standard. If you’re using less than that, then your skin isn’t getting the level of protection the SPF label promises.

2. Reapplication Isn’t Optional
Applying sunscreen only once for the day is a mistake many people make. Sunscreen breaks down over time, especially when you’re sweating or swimming. The rule of thumb is to reapply every two hours — and again immediately after toweling off or getting out of the water, regardless of how much time has passed. Water-resistant sunscreens help, but they are not waterproof, and no sunscreen lasts all day without reapplication.

3. Don’t Forget the Easy-to-Miss Spots
Even the most diligent sunscreen users tend to miss the same spots. The ears, the back of the neck, the tops of the feet, and the hairline are among the most skipped areas — and they’re also among the most common sites for skin cancer. Take an extra moment to make sure every exposed area is covered and consider asking someone to help with hard-to-reach spots like your upper back.

4. Check the Expiration Date
Sunscreen doesn’t last forever. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of about two to three years. And exposure to heat — like being left in a hot car or stored in a beach bag all summer — can break down the active ingredients even faster. If your sunscreen is from a previous summer, check the expiration date before you rely on it. When in doubt, replace it.

5. Understanding SPF — What the Numbers Really Mean
When you’re shopping for sunscreen, you will see an ‘SPF’ number on the bottle.
That stands for ‘Sun Protection Factor’ and measures how well a sunscreen protects your skin from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The number indicates how long it takes for your skin to burn while using the product as compared to not using it. For example, if you start to sunburn after 10 minutes with no protection, a sunscreen with SPF 30 protects you 30 times longer – or 300 minutes.

The problem, according to Dr. Price, is that a high SPF number is less effective than most people assume.

“An SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays while an SPF 50 blocks about 98%,” he says. “And while the higher number offers marginally more protection, the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 100 is less than most people assume.”

What matters more than a high SPF number is choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen — one that protects against both kinds of ultraviolet rays – UVA and UVB — and applying it correctly and consistently.

The Bottom Line
Sunscreen is one of the most powerful tools in your Sun Smart arsenal to protect your skin this summer — but only when it’s used the right way. Getting these five things right can make a real difference, not just for this summer, but for the long-term health of your skin.

Coming up next in our Sun Smart series is a look beyond sunscreen at the other layers of protection that can help keep your skin safe all summer long — what you wear, where you are, and when you go out.

Have questions about sun protection or skin care? Call Price Skin Care Clinic at (601) 992-3996 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Price or one of our nurse practitioners.