Summertime Skin Care

It’s summertime! This is a friendly reminder to protect your skin as you are out enjoying the summer fun. As you know, the sun causes DNA damage to the skin, which can lead to mutations that cause melanoma (skin cancer). The best way to protect the skin is with physical barriers such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These reflect UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not absorbed into the skin as the chemical ingredients are and as a result, are less likely to cause allergic skin reactions.

Micronized zinc oxide and titanium

Many people complain about the pasty white look of these barrier sunscreens. The trick is to find micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide the ultimate in UV protection, without leaving the wearer looking pasty.  Recent improvements in micronized oxides have allowed for the production of a micronized zinc or titanium oxide that retains 100% of its effectiveness and can be rubbed in clear.

Face Sunscreens I Use

For the face, I have my own formulation called Sheer Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+ which is gentle on sensitive and acne-prone skin, providing lasting protection against UVA and UVB rays, and is water resistant (40 minutes). This sunscreen blocks most UVA and UVB radiation from reaching the skin, minimizing the effect of UV damage, and providing up to 50 times our skin’s natural protection from sunburn, and contains antioxidants protective coverage from green tea polyphenols, resveratrol, vitamin C, emblica, and Co-Q10. This formulation of micronzied zinc oxide comes in a 4 ounce 360 degree omnidirectional spray bottle, that will spray upside down, available for $38.

I also use iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50 tinted formulation which contains transparent titanium dioxide and micronized zinc oxide and Vitamin E. Vitamin E moisturizes and contains a potent lipophilic antioxidant which inhibits DNA damage, thymine dimer formation, inflammation, oxidative damage and protects against UV-induced photo damage.

Eclipe  3 oz. Ultra Sheer, Broad sprectrum, SPF 50+ tinted available for $38.

Total Body Sunscreens I Use

For myself and my own family, I prefer the barrier sunscreens such as Banana Boat which contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, available in most convenience stores, and Honest SPF 30 sunscreen that contains zinc oxide, available at Costco.

Other summer protection tips

• Seek the shade especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M
• Avoid sunburns.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Whenever possible, cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.