As summer approaches, the joy of being outside again for long periods of time becomes possible again. Unfortunately, the risk of sun exposure returns as well. And children are particularly vulnerable.

Sun damage is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light is divided into three wavelength bands — ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC). Only UVA and UVB rays reach the earth. Exposure to UV light accelerates the skins’s production of melanin to protect the skin’s deeper layers and creates the darker color of a “tan.” A suntan is actually your body’s way of blocking the UV rays to prevent deeper skin damage. The amount of melanin produced by any particular person in response to sun exposure varies based on their genetics so that some people are more susceptible to sunburn than others. Sun damage leads to wrinkling, freckling, hyper-pigmentation and skin cancer. Each year, more than 2 million people in the U.S. develop non-melanoma skin cancers, a more than 300 percent increase in skin cancer incidence since 1994, when rates were last estimated. Most of those cases are sun-related, according to the American Cancer Society.

Protection: What does SPF really mean?

Most dermatologists agree that SPF is very misleading because the numbers don’t translate logically. For example, an SPF of 30 is not twice as good as an SPF of 15- SPF of 15 blocks about 90 percent of UVB rays, and an SPF of 30 blocks about 95%. Most experts would agree that anything higher than an SPF of 30 doesn’t add much to the level of protection. So, the danger is that putting on a higher SPF may cause people to stay out in the sun longer. And SPF is not a measure of protection from UVA rays.
Unfortunately, the standards set for sunscreens still are far from perfect. For example, unlike European countries, the U.S. has no guidelines for UVA protection ( which can happen even through glass and all through the year) so consumers here have no way of judging what to do. Apparently, the FDA claims its sunscreen recommendations will be released in October 2010. But the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that rates the safety and effectiveness of 1,700 sunscreen brands each year, claims that three out of five sunscreen formulas do not provide the protection promised on the label. And they report that “waterproof” and ‘sweat proof” and “all day” are simply not true.

How to protect your family: Sunscreen ingredients

1. Physical blockers:
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide work by deflecting sunlight off skin. In high enough concentrations, (7 percent and up) they provide effective protection against both UVA and UVB rays. However, they usually leave a white film on skin, so many manufacturers use chemically engineered nanoparticles to make them invisible and there is no data to show the effect of these nanoparticles on your child’s health. Friends of the Earth, one group that has cited health and environmental concerns about nanoparticles, publishes a list of nano-free sunscreens

2. Chemical blockers:
Chemical blockers work by absorbing sunlight and vary in how much UVA and UVB protection they provide. Oxybenzone is the most common chemical blocker, but blocks only part of the UVA spectrum. Parsol 1789 is a good UVB blocker, and provides the most comprehensive UVA coverage. According to most dermatologists, Anthelios with mexoryl, a proprietary formula from LaRoche-Posay is considered to be the best sunscreen of all.

Remember these tips to prevent sun damage:

• 1. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes BEFORE going outside and reapply at least every two hours. Don’t forget that UV rays can penetrate through the clouds, so sunscreen is important even on hazy days.
• 2. Try to avoid the direct sun as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• 3. Consider Sun-Protective clothing- there are many companies that make hats, tops pants and shorts for both children and adults.
• 4. Wear sunglasses with a manufacturer’s label that says the sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of all UV light. Many children’s sunglasses are not UV protective so check the label carefully, and be sure they fit close to the face or have wraparound frames to block sunlight from all angles.