Connolly Dermatology Helps You Protect Your Skin This Summer

By Sean Adair, MHS, PA-C, Connolly Dermatology
Down at the shore we have a uniquely beautiful way of life. The summer comes and our favorite restaurants re-open, the beach communities swell in population and our friends from Florida return. Our diets change, incorporating salt-water taffy and boardwalk popcorn, and the boardwalk itself becomes an honest place to burn those same calories.
Following suit, the practice of dermatology sees a certain “seasonality” as well. In the winter months, I work to educate patients on the importance of daily hydration/moisturization which is essential to those afflicted by eczema, psoriasis and xerosis (dry, itchy skin). As the days get warmer and longer, patients present with less of these symptoms and more of those related to sun damage. Their questions change from, “What moisturizer should I use?” to, “What sunscreen should I use?”
The glib answer to this question is that the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually apply. If you don’t care for the feel, price or smell of a product, then it’s unlikely to be part of your daily regimen. However, the truth is that sunscreens, which are FDA approved OTC drugs, vary in potency and mechanism of action. In terms of sheer “power,” the SPF number is a measure that signifies the strength of the product’s ability to block UVB rays. For example, an SPF rating of 30 will block 97 percent of UVB radiation, whereas SPF 50 will clock in at 98 percent blockage. UVB rays are those that cause sunburn, as opposed to UVA rays, which are implicated in photo aging, or those that cause premature wrinkling and age spots. It is important to note here that both are contributory to skin cancer.
Unfortunately, the FDA has no requirement for manufacturers to report on UVA blocking, which is why it is significant to understand how sunscreens work. Basically, products come in two forms: those with organic or inorganic active ingredients. Organic, or chemical-based, sunscreens utilize molecules that absorb the sun’s energy, such as avobenzone and homosalate. In doing so, they breakdown, converting UV rays into heat. Inorganic options are those that reflect the UV rays away from the person. Inorganic, or mineral-based, sunscreens will list zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients. Although I personally advocate for mineral-based options, neither is a perfect choice. Both require reapplication every two hours (and always after swimming and toweling off) to maintain the SPF listed. Examples of quality products to look for would be MD Solar Sciences Mineral Cream (which is a sunblock and moisturizer in one step) and EltaMD UV Clear (which has a very lightweight “feel”). EltaMD and MD Solar Science products offer users a variety of applications besides a lotion, like a stick, spray and tinted gels. All of these sunscreens are easy to find mineral-based options that retail in the $15-25 range.
The easy days of summer should be enjoyed, and an outdoor lifestyle is enviable at the Jersey Shore. However, hats, sunglasses, broad-spectrum sunscreens and seeking shade are important to maintaining skin that will look younger and healthier for longer.
Sean Adair, MHS, PA-C is passionate about practicing dermatology in his native South Jersey and honored to serve patients in the Cape May and Linwood offices of Connolly Dermatology, where new patients are welcome in all eight of our South Jersey locations. For more information, visit www.connollyskincare.com.