Here Comes the Sun

Here in Atlanta, we've already logged record-breaking high temps and summer has yet to officially begin. Each morning, without fail, I slather both my kids with sunscreen before sending them on their merry way. My six-year-old is used to the routine, but my three-year-old squirms and complains and makes it tough to apply it to his tiny features. Yet, I never give up, making sure his little ears, back of his neck and every other body part exposed to the sun gets covered.

I am constantly amazed when I see parents out with their kids, even newborn babies, without a hat and likely without any other barrier protecting their precious skin from the sun's harmful rays. In today's world, there is absolutely no excuse for not covering up in the summer. For years we've all known that tanning, even the slightest bit, causes cancer. If it's a vitamin D deficiency you're worried about, take a pill. And for heaven's sake, don't even think that those indoor tanning beds are somehow producing a healthier glow.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 65% of melanomas are caused by UV radiation. Last year, in the U.S. alone, nearly 70,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma and nearly 9,000 died from the disease. So despite what you might think, tanning may "look" healthy, but that is simply not the case. There is absolutely nothing healthy about bronzing (even lightly) your skin and the risks of future damage and even death are an incredibly high price to pay for perceived beauty. Bottom line: any level of tanning is a form of skin damage which at worst case, will lead to cancer, and at best case, will lead to wrinkled, prematurely aged skin.

I read an article on Web MD recently that it only takes one severe sunburn in your child's life to double their chances of skin cancer. I'm not a big gambler, and certainly not when it comes to the health of my children.

Unfortunately, not all sunscreens are created equal. While some tout an SPF level over 50, independent studies found that in some cases, this was way off the mark. One brand aimed at babies tested 80% lower in SPF than the label claimed. Many also contain controversial ingredients best avoided such as oxybenzone (a potential hormone disruptor) and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A that studies have shown may speed the growth of certain tumors). Zinc Oxide and titanium dioxide are the active SPF ingredients that have proven the safest for kids. For a list of the latest and greatest sunscreens, visit EWG for their yearly roundup. Be sure to check out their "Hall of Shame" for a list of brands to avoid.

So as you head out to the beach, the pool, or even your own backyard this summer, keep this in mind:

• Waterproof sunscreen only lasts about an hour and a-half, or less if you towel off. Reapply accordingly. 

• Allow sunscreen time to "set" by applying it about 15 minutes before you head outside.

• Be sure to use an adequate amount of sunscreen to protect you -- one ounce, about the amount in a shot glass. 

• Sun Protection Factor should be at least 30 and use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both ultraviolet A and B rays.

• Don't forget a hat or umbrella and seek shade when possible.

Fortunately, just this week, the FDA announced new rules for sunscreen labels that aim to make their protection levels more clear. Currently, SPF only refers to UVB rays, that cause sunburn. Now, labels will be required to list protection for UVA rays, which are the ones that cause cancer. Next year, sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or below will carry a warning stating that they only protect against sunburn and not against cancer or wrinkles. For now, look for a labels that say "broad spectrum" to be sure your coverup is doing the most complete job possible. 

I always have to laugh when I read the caution to stay out of the sun when the rays are the strongest -- between the hours of 10am and 4pm. I mean, I would personally love to be indoors enjoying my air-conditioning all day, all summer long, but how practical is that? I'm not now and never have been a hot weather kind of gal. But I have kids and they are loathe to stay indoors all the time so I suck it up and suffer the southern heat for many months of the year. But as with everything else in my life, I take precautions to make sure we're as safe as we possibly can be.

A few years ago, I discovered a product that my family swears by and I always recommend my friends try it out, especially in the summer. It's a powder that is added to the laundry that gives clothing an SPF of 30. It's cheap, easy and lasts for 20 washings so it's a no-brainer. For more info, visit Sun Guard.

Like many of you, I naively coated my body in baby oil and sprawled out on a towel practically made of tinfoil as a teenager living in Florida. You wouldn't know it now with my obsessive skincare routine and albino pallor, but I have no doubt I did plenty of damage to my skin before my 18th birthday (when most of the damage that causes skin cancer takes place). So if you can't stay cool, at least be smart about your sunning. No matter how healthy you think that tan makes you look, I promise you, it's worth the sacrifice to skip it.