PROTECT AND SERVE
SAVE YOUR FAMILY'S SKIN WITH THESE SUN-SATIONAL TIPS FORM TOP DERMATOLOGISTS

Whether your family is enjoying the summer sun while vacationing at the beach, taking a dip in the neighborhood pool,
or simply spending a lazy, hazy day in your own backyard, make sure you take the necessary steps to prevent the sun’s
harmful effects.

Though seemingly innocent, even limited time spent outdoors without skin protection can cause skin cancer, not to
mention premature aging, wrinkles, uneven coloration/pigmentation, abnormal blood vessel development and a
thickening of the skin's texture. According to Dr. Barry J. Cohen, founder of www.TotalSkinCare.com and pH advantage,
his own skincare line of medically formulated, non-prescription products, 80% of sun exposure occurs before the age of
18, despite the fact that we pay for it the rest of our lives. Yikes! Bottom line: it’s never too early to start shielding your skin.

To prevent sun damage, Dr. Cohen recommends that regardless of age, everyone should use sunscreen when spending time in the sun. Sunscreens work either by absorbing ultraviolet light before it reaches the skin or by reflecting light away from it. SPF or Sun Protection Factor, the familiar measurement of most sunscreens, refers to the level of protection against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. A sunscreen’s SPF number is the ratio of time in the sun necessary to produce a burn with protection versus that with unprotected skin. For example, a person who normally burns after 30 minutes of sun exposure will burn the same amount in two hours when wearing an SPF 4. The most widely used sunscreens with SPF 15 or 30, block 93% and 96.7% of UVB light, respectively.

“Generally speaking, there is not much of a difference in the level of protection as the SPF levels increase,”states Dr. Bradford Katchen, a New York City dermatologist. However, it is very important to use sunscreen properly for it to be effective—to simply slather it on isn't enough. The key to effective sunscreen use is threefold: use the correct amount, apply it properly and reapply often, and choose one with the most effective ingredients. Dr. Katchen notes that a common mistake is that people don’t apply enough product—on average consumers are using only 25-50% of the measure needed to reach the level of SPF listed on the label. Therefore, he suggests that everyone should use a liberal hand when applying sun block. To ensure the most effective protection during summer months, he recommends using a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, applying it 30 minutes before sun exposure, and again every two hours. New York City dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler, creator of her own eponymous skincare line, recommends applying sunscreen prior to getting dressed so as to avoid missing key areas like the skin close to bathing suit lines, the underarms, behind the knees, the ankles and the tops of feet. Additionally, Dr. Wexler warns to not put on sunscreen immediately after shaving or waxing, as the pores are open and irritation can occur. When using waterproof sun block, to make sure and reapply it every couple of hours, especially when coming out of the water, recommends Dr. Cohen. Also key, he says, are the product’s ingredients: “Parents should look to purchase sun blocks for themselves and their kids that contain one or more of the following: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or Parasol,” he advises.


If you’re partial to lotion-based formulas, try True Blue Spa’s Zero Tolerance SPF 50 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion ($12, www.bathandbodyworks.com) or Hampton Sun’s SPF 30 Pump Lotion ($35, www.victoriassecret.com).

If you prefer a spray-on formula, try Banana Boat’s Ultra Mist Sport Sunblock Spray, SPF 30 ($8.99, www.drugstore.com) or Clinique’s Body Spray SPF 30 Sun Block ($17.50, www.gloss.com). Excellent lotion-based options for the kids include pH Advantage’s Basics 4 Kids Sun Block ($45, www.phadvantage.com) and Cellex-C’s Baby Sunsafe Cream SPF 30+ ($35, www.cellex-cjunior.com).

Other great choices for little ones include super-convenient stick formulas like American Girl RealBeauty’s Sunblock Stick SPF 45 ($8.50, www.bathandbodyworks.com) and California Baby’s Everyday/Year Round SPF 30+,  Sunblock Stick ($12.99, www.californiababy.com), and Hawaiian Tropic’s Baby Faces and Tender Places Sunblock Spray 50+ SPF ($9.99, www.drugstore.com), a spray-on formula.

Don’t neglect your lips! Keep at least one tube of Davines SU’s Protective Anti-Age Lip Gloss with SPF 10 ($14, www.davines.com) and Circle of Friends’s Weather Guard Lip Balm ($3.00,www.circle-of-friends.com) — grape-flavored for the kids—in your beach bag at all times.

Though using sun block is the most traditional form of sun protection, don’t forget the importance—not to mention effectiveness—of other sun barriers. When outdoors, Dr. Cohen recommends wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect the eyes from macular degeneration, a condition that can lead to blindness. For even more protection, park yourself under a large UV-blocking sun umbrella. Teach kids that sun protection can be fun by placing them in a covered float-like Aqua Leisure’s Adjustable Sunshade Baby Boat ($14.99, www.buybuybaby.com) when in the water, or in Aqua Leisure’s Baby Hideaway Pool or Baby Playmat With Sunshade ($14.99 and 19.99, www.buybuybaby.com) when on land.

Now that you’re well-protected, go enjoy that summer sun!—Chelsea Kaplan

Editor and writer Chelsea Kaplan's blog, “I'm Somebody's Mother?,” can be found in the blog section. Click here to check it out.

Sunny Days, Chasing the Clouds Away
TFG's Favorite Gear Under the Sun


2. Want a sun-kissed glow without the sun? Try spritzing Sephora’s SuperStars Super Sheen Bronzing Mist ($18, www.sephora.com) all over your body and dusting Jouer’s Sunshine Bronzer ($18, www.sephora.com) on your face.

















1. Protect your skin every day, regardless of the climate by
applying Patricia Wexler M.D.’s Skin Brightening Daily
Moisturizer SPF 30+ to your face and neck every morning
($39.50, www.bathandbodyworks.com).



              
3. California Baby’s Designer Sunglasses
($8.50, www.californiababy.com) are a stylin’
way to protect your little one’s eyes, while
Gucci’s Beveled Square Sunglasses
($230, www.saks.com) are an ultra-glam choice
for Mom.


5. Park yourself under this pretty parasol
with a good book and enjoy a guilt-free day
outdoors ($25, www.comfortchannel.com).