Not all sunscreens are created equal. Boy, if I had a dime for each time my dermatologist has uttered those words to me I would be able to afford more trips to her office. In my previous blog I tried to provide a translation of the alphabet soup printed on the outside of sunscreen bottles. Basically, you want to look beyond the SPF numbers and choose a product that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.
The good news is that a growing number of sunscreen manufacturers are paying attention and offering more “broad spectrum” products with UVA blockers. According to my doctor the most effective ones include at least one of three ingredients: avobenzone, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Admittedly, each ingredient has flaws: avobenzone breaks down in the sun, the other two can appear goopy, and none adequately filters out the entire spectrum of UVA rays. However, sunscreen makers are not giving up—-they keep experimenting and some have been able to make strides with their “broad spectrum” products. For example, according to my dermatologist, Neutrogena’s “Helioplex” is effective in stabilizing avobenzone.
A widely publicized breakthrough in the advancement of sunscreens came last summer when the Food and Drug Administration approved Mexoryl SX, a chemical that blocks short UVA rays missed by other sunscreens. Currently, it’s patented by L’Oreal, which has recently introduced two products that uses Mexoryl SX combined with a stabilized form of avobenzone. One is La Roche-Posey’s moisturizer Anthelios SX, which retails for about $30 for 3.4 ounces. The other is Lancome’s water-resistant UV Expert 20 face and body cream, which costs about $35 for 3.4 ounces. According to sunscreen manufacturers, more products that include Mexoryl SX are in the works. (By the way, my dermatologist says Mexoryl SX can be ordered online.) Also in the works is a standard ratings scale for UVA protection similar to the SPF number for UVB.
If you can’t get your hands on a product with Mexoryl SX doctors recommend applying a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 in addition to wearing protective headgear and sunglasses.
Related Articles:
Deciphering The Sunscreen Alphabet
New Hope For Those With Skin Cancer