Don’t get burned: What to know about sun protection

For many, summer brings thoughts of lounging by the pool or heading to the beach. But while the warm, sunny weather offers many opportunities for fun outdoor activities, it also brings exposure to damaging UV rays, which can lead to sunburns, premature aging, and skin cancer.

Penn Today spoke with dermatologists Joanna Walker and Aditi Senthilnathan to understand how to enjoy the sunny summer weather without getting burned.

Every day of sun exposure contributes to skin damage

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The effects of UV exposure are cumulative, which means that each exposure—even those from childhood—contributes to long-term skin damage, says Walker, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Perelman School of Medicine.

This is important to understand because cumulative sun exposure is the number one cause of both skin cancer and accelerated skin aging, including wrinkles; discoloration such as sunspots; and other changes in the skin’s appearance, adds Senthilnathan, a micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The good news? Consistent habits to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation prevents skin cancer and photoaging effects.

A new sunscreen ingredient gives Americans more options

For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen active ingredient: bemotrizinol.

Bemotrizinol, which has been commercially available in countries outside of the United States since the 1990s, is a broad-spectrum sunscreen filter, meaning that it blocks both UVA and UVB, says Senthilnathan.

“It is also more photostable,” she adds. “It doesn’t degrade as easily as other chemical UV filters that have been available, such as avobenzone, when exposed to sunlight.”

“This is a really big win because we’ve had limited ingredients to work with up until this point,” says Walker. “A new sunscreen filter hasn’t been approved since 1999, so we’re super excited that we’re making progress.”

Sunscreen is important, but it is only part of the story

“A common misconception is that sunscreen on its own is enough to protect against sun exposure—it’s not,” says Senthilnathan. “Care should be taken to stay out of the sun during peak sun hours by seeking shade or staying indoors and to wear broad-brimmed hats and sun-protective clothing in addition to sunscreen."

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Walker agrees, adding that sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly, as it can wear off with sweat or swimming.

This is particularly important when using Korean sunscreens, say Senthilnathan.

“Korean sunscreens have increased in popularity recently, in part because of their lightweight texture and cosmetically elegant application,” she says. “They are a nice option for daily use; however, it should be noted that lighter sunscreens may sweat off more easily during periods of intense exercise.”

And regardless of the sunscreen, it is important to make sure to apply it evenly, she adds.

“The best sunscreen is the one you will use daily—make it a habit,” says Senthilnathan.

Social media is a popular source for sun safety information, but not all claims are backed by science

Social media has fueled widespread discussion—and misinformation—about sunscreen, including false claims that sunburns aren’t dangerous, sunscreen use leads to vitamin D deficiency, and sunscreens are toxic, says Walker.

She and Senthilnathan stress the importance of careful consideration of all claims.

“It’s important to understand the motivation behind anyone selling information about sunscreen (or anything, for that matter),” says Senthilnathan. “If a claim sounds too good to be true or wildly different from what we know already, it probably is.”