Is Your Dry Skin A Problem?

By K.L. Perrins, R.Ph.

“Even individuals knowledgeable about the risks of sun exposure are likely to apply sunscreen poorly,” Caroline Robert, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. She presented the results of a study where 16 women, all well-informed about the hazards of UV exposure, were asked to apply a sunscreen (SPF 20) to protect their skin as if they would be going sunbathing at the beach. The investigation found that use of the product was not adequate, both in terms of quantity applied and the quality of spreading.

It is interesting how SPF values are determined, and Dr. Robert explained this as follows:
"SPF determinations for a given sunscreen are derived from studies where a defined quantity of the product is applied to a defined surface area. Using a lesser amount of the product results in a proportional decrease in SPF value. The conclusion was that proper technique for sunscreen application may be as important a public health message as education about use of products providing broad-spectrum protection.
Special techniques were used to determine how evenly the sunscreen was spread on the body. It was observed that some areas were completely missed while other areas showed a very uneven distribution. Skin directly adjacent to the edges of the bathing suit and at the hairline, as well as the top portion of the back, the feet, and the ears were most likely to be missed. "To avoid contact with the hair or their clothing, users may purposely avoid applying sunscreen near those sites, and the back is difficult to reach by oneself. However, only 70 percent of women who participated in this study asked for any help with applying the sunscreen to the back," Dr. Robert said.
Prevention is still the key to combating melanoma cancers. By wearing an adequate amount of a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15, applied every two hours; by using sun-protective clothing; by wearing a broad-brimmed hat, and avoiding the midday sun, we can do our best to prevent skin cancer from developing in ourselves and our children. Remember to look for a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.