Beneath the Surface: How to properly apply and use sunscreen

From healio.com

Sunscreen is one of the primary interventions for limiting the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, such as skin cancer. However, if applied incorrectly, users will not receive these protective benefits.

In this Beneath the Surface video interview, Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, FAAD, the James J. Leyden Professor of Clinical Investigation and professor of dermatology and epidemiology at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Healio Dermatology’s Chief Medical Editor, spoke with Adewole S. Adamson, MD, MPP, a dermatologist and health services researcher at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, about how to use sunscreen effectively along with other recommended photoprotective measures.

                                                         Data derived from interview.
“I always tell my patients who say, ‘I put sunscreen on and still got a sunburn’ that they should get their money back because sunscreen is highly effective when applied properly,” Gelfand said. “Often, the issue is not applying enough or not reapplying it.”

According to Adewole, the proper amount of sunscreen to apply is equivalent to a shot-glass worth for the entire body and a quarter teaspoon for the face.

“It is going to almost feel like too much, but often people do not put on enough,” Adewole said. “Another method for quantifying how much sunscreen to apply is to take two of your fingers and dab a line of sunscreen on both to coat your face. There are a lot of different ways to quantify it, but these are a few I tell my patients.”

Although sunscreen is effective immediately upon application, users should coat sunscreen on their skin 15 minutes before going outside to ensure the formulation has had a chance to settle, dry and resist movement, according to Adamson. People should reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.

“After a couple of hours of being active outside, some of the sunscreen clumps up, which introduces holes or defects in the protection,” Adamson said. “That is why you need to add another layer.”

Adamson encourages everyone to not only use sunscreen but also employ other sun-safe behaviors such as wearing a hat, seeking shade and avoiding peak UV hours.

“Sunscreen has imperfections because of user error,” Adamson said. “Sun protective clothing does not necessarily cover everything. Wearing a hat, staying out of the sun, if possible — all of these different interventions, all together, are what need to be emphasized. Sunscreen gets so much of the airtime, but we must think about all these other ways to reduce your sun exposure, too.”

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