Sunscreen, clothes can stop rays

The sun emits two types of harmful ultraviolet rays — UVA and UVB.

UVA rays come through the atmosphere 24/7, penetrate deeper into the skin and can break down the collagen and cause aging.

UVB rays, most intense between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., especially in sunny climates, are short and can damage the DNA within skin cells. These rays cause sunburns and are most responsible for skin cancer, including melanoma.

This year about 95,880 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States, the American Academy of Dermatology says. And 7,910 people are expected to die from it — 5,050 men and 2,860 women.

However, if caught in time, melanoma is treatable. People with lighter skin are much more prone to melanoma, but every skin type can be damaged by UV rays.

Sunscreens

Most dermatologists say no sun is good sun. But they also are realistic, so they give guidelines on sunscreen.

If you’re going to be out for more than 15 minutes, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.

Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB light. Most sunscreens already protect against UVB, but they should say they specifically protect against UVA rays — or they should say “full spectrum.”

Use at least SPF (sun protection factor) 15. SPF, which protects from UVB rays, refers to the amount of time you will be protected from a burn. An SPF of 15 will allow you to stay out in the sun 15 times longer than you normally would be able to stay without burning.

If, for instance, you burn after 10 minutes in the sun, an SPF of 15 will protect you for 150 minutes. If you burn after 30 minutes in the sun, SPF 15 will protect you for 450 minutes.

But that doesn’t mean you should apply it only when your time limit runs out. You should reapply it at least every two hours or after swimming or perspiring heavily.

Even waterproof sunscreens can wash off or rub off over time.

A sunscreen with a higher SPF factor generally costs more, but it does not markedly increase protection: an SPF of 15 filters 93 percent of UVB while an SPF of 30 filters 97 percent.

Protective clothing

Clothing is now available with sunscreen protection built-in. The basic rule of thumb is that the tighter the weave and the darker the color, the more it protects. (Most T-shirts do not provide great protection.)

Some companies also add chemicals that protect from UV. Clothing companies specializing in clothing that protects against UV will also give an SPF factor.

Fake tanning products

If you still are set on that deep glow, you might try fake tanning products, which cause what dermatologists say is a harmless chemical reaction in the skin to make it darker.

The active ingredient in sunless tanners, dihydroxyacetone, reacts with dead surface cells of the skin that make it look darker without affecting deeper skin layers. (It generally lasts five to seven days.)

Some self-tanners are so good that only your doctor will know for sure. Or maybe not.

“The bottle stuff fools me,” says dermatologist Steven Feldman, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Spray-on tans are “the greatest thing since sliced bread because (people who use them) get the what they want but they’re not damaging the skin,” Miami dermatologist Flor Mayoral says.