New ways to beat sun damage
July 26, 2002

From the Editors of Fitness Magazine

Sun exposure causes premature signs of aging (like wrinkles and brown spots), and it’s the primary link to skin cancer, the No. 1 cancer in women ages 25 to 29, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Here are the latest, most effective ways to save your skin, your looks, maybe even your life:

Go for higher SPF’s: Skincare companies are offering the highest SPFs yet. While 30 has become the standard for adequate coverage, higher numbers make reapplications (usually every two to three hours) less necessary — perfect for outdoor sports and boating. Use a sunblock that contains both physical and chemical sun-blocking ingredients for the broadest-spectrum protection (both UVA and UVB coverage), suggests Steven Grekin, M.D., a dermatologist in Wyandotte, Mich.

Get wise about windows: Most windows—in your car, office, home or gym—block only UVB rays (which cause your skin to redden and burn). But you’re still being exposed to UVA, also called aging rays, which are implicated in the development of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, studies show that American drivers have greater sun damage on the left side of their bodies than on the right. So consider coating your windows with a UVA and UVB protective film, suggests Leslie Baumann, M.D., director of cosmetic dermatology at the University of Miami.

Use SPF detergent: Use a laundry treatment containing an ultraviolet protectant — it can quadruple the protection of your clothes. “An untreated cotton T-shirt, for example, provides an SPF of only five. You might as well be naked,” says Dr. Grekin. “But after washing it with a sun-protecting clothing detergent, it can offer an SPF of up to 30.” (The additive alters fibers, making it harder for UV rays to penetrate.) The treated clothing protects your skin even when fabric is wet, and the coverage lasts for up to 20 washings. Try Rit Sun Guard Laundry Treatment UV Protectant, $20, which knocks out 96 percent of the sun’s harmful rays.

Beat the burn: If you accidentally overdo it, coat burned skin with olive oil. In a recent study at the Kobe University School of Medicine in Japan, researchers found that when extra-virgin olive oil was applied to mice after they had been exposed to ultraviolet rays, the treated mice had fewer, fewer threatening tumors and experienced less skin-cell damage than the untreated mice.

Stop smoking: If you haven’t heard enough reasons to put out that butt once and for all, here’s another: A study from the Netherlands shows not only that cigarette smoking causes premature wrinkling and signs of aging, but that smokers have a 50 percent higher risk than nonsmokers of developing squamous cell cancer, a form of skin cancer that can be deadly. For information on how to kick the habit and save your skin, log on to the American Cancer Society Web site (www.cancer.org), or call (800) 227-2345 for helpful tips.