By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
Katrina and the Waves released their hit Walking on Sunshine in 1985. It was meant to be an optimistic song, which took on a new meaning in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
If you are walking in the sunshine, are you protecting your skin? Two people die of skin cancer every hour in the United States. Five or more sunburns in your life doubles your risk of melanoma (skin cancer). Having your first sunburn as a child increases the risk of skin cancer by 80%. Sun exposure also accelerates skin aging and wrinkling.
Recently, there has been concern about the quality and protection of U.S. made sunscreens compared to European products. According to an Environmental Working Group study, only 35% of the 51 U.S. products tested were strong enough in protection against UV rays to meet the European Union (EU) standards.
This was not the first study to prove this point. In 2017, a study was released indicating only 11 of 20 U.S. products met the EU standards. A British researcher found you would need to use 3 times the U.S. products to achieve the same UVA ray blocking effect as the EU sunscreens. Even tests done in the U.S. demonstrated sunscreens labeled with the same SPF had different protection levels. The U.S. products were effective in preventing sunburn, but were not strong enough to block UVA rays causing skin aging. This raises the potential for the development of skin cancer even with the use of sunscreens.
When evaluating sunscreens, there are 2 mechanisms used to protect the skin. One is a physical blocking effect by minerals. This category includes zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The white particles physically block the sun from entering the skin. The FDA considers this method to be safe and effective. The mineral sunscreens do not get absorbed across the skin. The disadvantage is the white color, which displays differently with varying skin tones.
The other method of prevention is a chemical category of application. These sunscreens when applied absorb the UV rays before they can penetrate the skin. These agents are absorbed across the skin and enter the bloodstream. Some ingredients in this category include avobenzone and padimate O.
The FDA proposed a draft guidance to update the U.S. standards for sunscreens in 2019 and again in 2021. The proposed guidelines have not been enacted as of May 2024.
In addition, several medications can increase the risk of sun damage. Common pain relievers including ibuprofen and naproxen can increase the risk. Antihistamines for allergies can enhance the risk of skin damage. Many prescription medications can increase the risk including antibiotics, heart medications, and mental health therapies.
So how do you protect your skin? Apply sunscreen and cover your skin with clothing and hats. When purchasing sunscreen, you want to look for coverage for both UVA and UVB sunlight and SPF factor. In a study of 200 men and women, researchers had each participant put SPF 50 on one side of their face while covering the other side with a SPF 100. After 6 hours of exposure including reapplication every 2 hours, more than 50% had more sunburn on the SPF 50 side of their face than the SPF 100 side. The investment in a higher SPF sunscreen may provide additional benefit.
Keep walking on sunshine and wear sunscreen! Talk to your pharmacist about sun safety!
Contact ONU HealthWise Pharmacy 419-772-3784 for more information. ONU Healthwise is offering the flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics Monday through Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
