Marie Gahler, Senior Manager, Weight and Nutrition Education Services:  

As a resident of rainy Seattle, I consider a sunny day to be grounds for celebration! Sun worship is a tradition here and, like most of you, I try to be outside for every sunny moment. But sun exposure has its downside—skin cancer and eye damage, not to mention premature aging of the skin. July is UV safety month and is a great time to remember the importance of sunscreen and eye protection when getting your rays.

After 33 years of studying sunscreen products, in June of this year the FDA released new standards for sunscreens and labeling guidelines. Beginning next summer, any product labeled “broad spectrum” must protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Both types of rays are dangerous - UVAs are ultraviolet light rays that can penetrate the deep layers of the skin. UVB rays are ultraviolet radiation that can damage the skin’s cellular DNA. Other FDA guidelines cover the terms “sunblock, waterproof, and sweat proof” which will no longer appear on sunscreen products as they are misleading as to the level of protection they provide. Sunscreen should be reapplied frequently for the best protection—and don’t forget other ways to block sun exposure like wearing a hat, UV-rated eyewear, and sitting in the shade.

You might wonder if organic sunscreen products provide any advantage. While the FDA has stated that issues about microscopic ingredients in sunscreen and other skin care products absorbed into the body are not a cause for concern, not everyone is reassured. Ingredients such as parabens, Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea, BHT, DEA, TEA, and MEA have been linked to various types of cancer. The Environment Working Group—a group of scientists who review studies and do product testing—has put together a list of suggested safe sunscreens. Their list can be found here.

So, are there other concerns to sunscreen use and limiting sun exposure? Sun exposure is one of the key ways our bodies make vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin is not present naturally in many foods, but is essential for healthy bones, cell growth, and immune function. Sunscreen products with SPF levels as low as 8 block the body’s ability to make vitamin D. Studies have shown that the percent of teens and adults deficient in vitamin D has gone from 45% in the early 1990s to 77% today. Sunscreen use has likely contributed significantly to this increase. Most adults need to take supplemental vitamin D and many experts recommend taking 800-1000 IU per day to maintain adequate blood levels.

If you’re like me your sunscreen use can be spotty – most of us worry about the short term risk of a painful sunburn more than we think about getting skin cancer. But the risk with unprotected sun exposure is just too high to ignore. More than two million people are treated in the US each year for skin cancer—it is the most common type of cancer, and one in five of us will receive a diagnosis in our lifetime. Sunscreen use can significantly reduce the risk. So, let’s all get the most our of the precious few sunny Seattle days we get, but be smart and protect our skin and eyes as well.