Sunscreen: Make it Easy on Yourself

But sunscreen is the fashion accessory you must have this summer. It doesn't come cheap. And you'll have to choose from a bewildering array of styles and sizes. But it's the only reliable way to save your skin from unsightly wrinkles and devastating disease. If you want to look good and stay healthy, you'll wear it. Here are eight ways to make it easier on yourself:

1. Forget all the different SPF ratings and what all the details mean. Just look for three things (besides price): Get sunscreen that says it protects against both UVB and UVA. Buy one with an SPF of at least 30. And get one that says it's waterproof--not water resistant. You'll still have to reapply it after swimming or sweating a lot, but less so with waterproof sunscreen.

2. Use a moisturizer containing a broad-spectrum sunscreen that you can apply under your make-up or after shaving.

3. Stock up on sunscreen so that you won't run out. Keep an extra tube in your car, purse or briefcase so that you can put it on quickly if you forget to put it on the first thing. And if you need to reapply it during the day, you have it.

4. Look for packages of pre-moistened sunscreen wipes that you can conveniently store anywhere.

5. Keep a tube of sunscreen near the door so that you don't have to go back upstairs to the bathroom to apply it.

6. Don't feel restricted to only one type of sunscreen. Get a lotion to apply first thing in the morning and a spray-on to use later on.

7. Get used to applying sunscreen every day. Do it even in the winter. This will not only protect you from you from radiation reflected by snow (or at high altitudes when you ski), but you'll get used to wearing sunscreen as a part of your regular routine.

8. Wear protective clothing. If you don't want to apply sunscreen all over your body every single day, you can wear clothes that actually protect you, especially if you are super sensitive to the sun. Yes, you'll have to cover your arms and legs, but you won't have to slosh sunscreen on as much. First, get a wide-brimmed hat and a classy pair of oversize sunglasses to protect your scalp, face and eyes. Next, look for sun-protective garments--tightly woven, long pants and shirtsleeves--that serve as a barrier against the radiation. You can tell if the fabric is tightly woven; you can't see through it when you hold it up to the light. There are even some manufacturers that now make clothing with a high built-in SPF factor; these fabrics will even protect you if you get wet. The clothes are stylish, lightweight and great for golfing, gardening or other activities in the sun. Look for Coolibar sun protective clothing or
Sunprotectionzone.com .

Resource:

James Campbell, MD, a Dover, New Hampshire dermatologist on the Dartmouth Medical School faculty