How long does sunscreen last in the container? Should you throw it away after a year or two if you haven’t used all of it? Sunscreens don’t last forever, on your skin or in the bottle. The FDA considers sunscreens to be over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, meaning they are subject to much more stringent guidelines and […]

After you’ve dressed in the morning and because you take great care of your skin, you apply a well-formulated sunscreen to the areas of your body that will be exposed to the sun. You are confident that the parts of your body covered by clothing are protected from the sun and therefore don’t need sunscreen. […]

If SPF 70 doesn’t give you significantly better protection (as seen from the chart above), why do many dermatologists recommend using higher SPF numbers then necessary? After all, we know that an SPF 70 can give about 700 minutes of protection (assuming you aren’t swimming or sweating) and that even in Alaska during the summer […]

There are many reasons why you may still be getting some tan despite diligent use of sunscreen. One likely cause is the fact that even the best of sunscreens still let some sun rays through. A high SPF number is not about better or deeper protection, but only longer protection—an SPF 30 means you can […]

The major signs of sun-damaged skin are that the outer layer of skin becomes thickened, wrinkled, and brown in patches. To some extent that does serve as protection, but it isn’t very good protection (it barely rates an SPF 2 or 4), nor is it very attractive! Both AHAs and BHA can help remove some […]

Most of us know about what it feels like to get a sunburn. Spending even a short time in the sun can be all it takes to get a serious, painful burn. Sunburn is an actual radiation burn of your skin. The ultraviolet light from the sun damages the DNA of your skin cells, causing […]

In 2002, the FDA issued regulations regarding sunscreen that require companies to eliminate the use of the word “waterproof” as a valid claim. In truth, no sunscreen can be waterproof because it must be reapplied if you have been sweating or immersed in water for a period of time. The only approved terms for use […]

Now that so many products contain sunscreen (foundation, concealers, moisturizers, and even face powders), the next question is, What about application? That’s a great question! The major issue for the use of any well-formulated sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater with UVA – protecting ingredients) is liberal application. Why? Because protection is determined not only by […]

It’s vital to know that the SPF rating refers only to protection from UVB radiation. The European Union has adopted a UVA rating system, but it is controversial and has not yet been adopted in other parts of the globe. The FDA is working on one but there is no telling when that will be […]