Here comes the sunscreen
I am tan. So tan that if you caught me poolside in a bathing suit, you’d think I was still wearing a pair of white shorts. Gross? Um, yeah, I have fierce tennis tan lines. Maybe that is somewhat expected considering the hours we put into playtesting — all on outdoor tennis courts. This is California after all, but we’re not all sun worshippers.
I don’t want to get any more tan and worry that by doing so I am putting myself at risk for premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. I apply sunscreen every day. My daily body moisturizer is SPF 15, and I reapply a heavier duty sunscreen, SPF 50, before I got outside for an activity. Recently a co-worker, who also suffers from the same too-tan dilemma, googled sunscreen vs. sunblock. Search results indicated that these aren’t the same thing, and sunblock is intended to reflect the UVA and UVB rays, which, according to some Web sites, would prevent tanning.
Being a skeptic, I went online for more information. I found an article from the FDA that explains the agency’s efforts to upgrade sunscreen labeling, which would include a four star rating system to indicate the level of protection. I for one would really appreciate this system. The article is dated 2007, but I have yet to see these new labels at the local drug store.
In the meantime, though, I’ve bought some product labeled “sunblock” to give it a try and compare it with sunscreen. I can’t really tell if it’s made much of a difference in the tanning department. Lotion consistency wise, though, the sunblock feels thicker than my usual sunscreen. I’ve also been using a stick sunscreen on my face because it doesn’t run when I’m sweating. Nothing burns more than sunscreen dripping into the eyes. Ouch!
Some apparel too now offers UV protection. I’m loving the new styles from KSwiss that are offering SPF 40 and also Fila, which provides SPF 30. I’m happy to see that more manufacturers are thinking about the sun, too. (Don’t worry guys, there are UV pieces for you as well. Check out Fila or Nike’s UV Crew.)
After my brief online search, I’m still hazy on the labeling, but I will continue to wear hats, pull on UV protective clothing and slather on some sunscreen/sunblock. Some information provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation on the active ingredients was helpful, so I have some guidance when I’m shopping. However, if anyone has some additional helpful info on the sunscreen/sunblock front, send them my way. Here’s to not burning!
Happy hitting,
Tiffani
