Four common sunscreen questions – Spring 2015 Use this information SPF to help you advise 30 your customers about Use the Sun Protection System sunscreen use. 30 SP F 1. How do sunscreens filter the slip, slop, slap, and wrap sun’s rays? Sunscreens may contain physical or chemical Ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate barriers to screen skin against the sun’s (cinoxate)) ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). While physical barriers reflect or scatter the UV rays, » Salicylates (Homomenthyl salicylate chemical barriers act by absorbing the UV (homosalate), Ethylhexyl salicylate (octyl radiation before it hits the skin. salicylate/octisalate), Trolamine salicylate General advice is to choose a sunscreen which » Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) is broad spectrum, which means it filters both UVA and UVB rays. Those who have sensitive » Ecamsule ((terephthalylidene dicamphor skin should choose a sunscreen labelled sulfonic acid; Mexoryl SX) hypoallergenic or low irritant. » Ensulizole ((phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic Typical chemical absorbers include: acid) » Aminobenzoic acid derivatives (Glyceryl » Bemotrizinol (Tinosorb S) PABA), Padimate O, Roxadimate) » Bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M) » (Dioxybenzone, Benzophenones Physical blockers are titanium dioxide and Oxybenzone, Sulisonbenzone) zinc oxide. When applied they leave a thick » Cinnamates (Octocrylene, Octyl opaque (white) layer on the skin. Microfine or methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), nanoparticles of both are transparent on the skin and reflect UV radiation. 2. Do babies’ need a special sunscreen? » Babies’ skin is very sensitive and can sunburn easily so keep them out of the sun. » Once a baby is moving use the sun protection system. » Patch test an untried sunscreen on the skin 24 hours before applying it widely to check that there is no reaction. + 0 3 SunSmart.org.nz Four common sunscreen questions – Spring 2015 3. What is the SPF on a sunscreen label? Recommended reading: Health Promotion Agency SunSmart SPF is a measure of how much UVB the sunscreen advice: can filter. Currently there is no international http://sunsmart.org.nz/ standard to label the degree of protection from UVA. Cancer Society of New Zealand – sunscreen advice: Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF https://wellington.cancernz.org.nz/mi/ of at least 30 and apply this correctly. Higher SPF sunscreens are available, however they still need reducing-cancer-risk/what-you-can-do/ to be correctly applied and reapplied. When the sunsmart/sunscreen/ instructions on the sunscreen label are followed, DermNet – sunscreen advice: SPF30 filters 96.7% of UV radiation. SPF50 filters http://www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/ 98% of UV radiation. No matter how high the which-sunscreen.html SPF rating, no sunscreen can screen out all UV radiation. Consumer New Zealand – sunscreen: https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/ sunscreens 4. What is the best way to apply sunscreen? Australian Prescriber: Sunscreens. Hanrahan JR (2012): http://www.australianprescriber.com/ Apply sunscreen before sun » 20 minutes magazine/35/5/148/51 exposure to allow time for it to dry and be absorbed into the skin. Therapeutic Goods Administration, » An average sized adult should apply at Department of Health & Ageing, least 1 teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm Australian Government: Literature and leg, and 1/2 a teaspoon to the face, neck Review on the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in and ears. sunscreens » Always reapply sunscreen every two hours http://www.tga.gov.au/literature-review- when you are outdoors and more often if safety-titanium-dioxide-and-zinc-oxide- you are sweating or in water. nanoparticles-sunscreens Ministry of Health: http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/ face conditions-and-treatments/diseases- ears and-illnesses/skin-cancer neck http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/ half consensus-statement-vitamin-d-and- a teaspoon sun-exposure-new-zealand of sunscreen to: http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/ companion-statement-vitamin-d-and- arm sun-exposure-pregnancy-and-infancy- leg teaspoon of sunscreen 1to each: SunSmart.org.nz.