* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    Safety concerns in Deep Ellum create apprehension as the entertainment district gains visitors – CBS News

    Safety Concerns Surge Amid Deep Ellum’s Booming Popularity and Growing Crowds

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

    Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    China’s Military Introduces Mosquito-Sized Drones: A Game-Changing Surveillance Technology – Indian Defence Review

    China Unveils Mosquito-Sized Drones: Revolutionizing Surveillance Technology

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Promising Technology Stocks To Follow Today – June 22nd – MarketBeat

    Top Technology Stocks to Watch Today – June 22nd

    Technology Convergence Report 2025 – The World Economic Forum

    Technology Convergence Report 2025 – The World Economic Forum

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    Safety concerns in Deep Ellum create apprehension as the entertainment district gains visitors – CBS News

    Safety Concerns Surge Amid Deep Ellum’s Booming Popularity and Growing Crowds

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

    Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    China’s Military Introduces Mosquito-Sized Drones: A Game-Changing Surveillance Technology – Indian Defence Review

    China Unveils Mosquito-Sized Drones: Revolutionizing Surveillance Technology

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Promising Technology Stocks To Follow Today – June 22nd – MarketBeat

    Top Technology Stocks to Watch Today – June 22nd

    Technology Convergence Report 2025 – The World Economic Forum

    Technology Convergence Report 2025 – The World Economic Forum

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Does sunscreen expire? Your burning suncare questions, answered

June 22, 2023
in Science
Does sunscreen expire? Your burning suncare questions, answered
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ByCarrie Arnold

Published June 21, 2023

• 9 min read

We’ve all felt it: that moment the warmth of the sun’s rays becomes a bit too warm and the reality hits that we’ve got a sunburn. Most of the time, it leads to several hours or days of pain and discomfort. Over time, however, this sun exposure causes premature skin aging and cancers like melanoma.

In the last several decades, skin experts have stopped wondering if we should be wearing sunscreen (that answer is a resounding yes), but how much, when, and under what circumstances. More questions swirl about the benefits of different types of sunscreens and their relative safety for us and the environment.

“Skin cancer is on the rise. I diagnose it every day in my practice,” says Gregory Papadeas, a dermatologist based in Denver. He cites not only the depletion of the ozone layer, the part of the Earth’s atmosphere that helps absorb harmful ultraviolet rays, but also the increasing popularity of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and cycling.

National Geographic talked to a range of dermatologists to get the lowdown on everything you need to know about sunblock, from A to Zinc oxide.

How important is wearing sunscreen?

Very, says Bruce Brod, a dermatologist at the University of Pennsylvania. But sunscreen is only one part of a more holistic strategy to prevent harmful sun exposure. The most effective strategy is to avoid the sun when it is most intense, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Other options include wearing hats with brims at least four inches wide and wearing sun protective clothing. Although most clothing provides more sun protection than going out in bare skin, Brod recommends buying clothes with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of at least 30.

(Can aging be cured? Scientists are giving it a try.)

To check if an item you already own provides protection, hold it up to a light bulb. If it lets light through, it probably won’t provide much protection, especially if it’s gauzy or gets wet.

Burns aside, why should I be concerned about sun exposure?

For starters, that’s because UV rays are the leading cause of premature aging in skin, which includes wrinkles, sagging, and dryness, says Mona Gohara, a dermatologist at Yale University. Individuals with darker skin may also notice hyperpigmentation, or an uneven increase in skin color.

But what about getting a base tan? Will that protect me?

No. “Tans are your body’s way of telling you that you’ve damaged the skin,” Gohara says. “There’s no such thing as a good base tan. That’s a fallacy.”

When it comes to SPF, is bigger always better?

A sunscreen’s SPF (short for Sun Protection Factor) is a measurement of how much solar energy (in the form of UVA and UVB rays) it takes to cause a sunburn in comparison compared to untreated skin when it’s used as directed. So wearing adequate amounts of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 means it will take 15 times more solar energy to cause a burn; an SPF of 30 would take 30 times more.

(Some animals make their own sunscreen.)

Current advice from the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

The important caveat is using the product as directed, and most of us don’t.

So when should I apply sunblock—and how much should I put on?

The amount of sunscreen applied under laboratory conditions is about 1 ounce. It’s about the size of a golf ball, or enough lotion to fill a shot glass. The average person uses around one-third that amount, according to Dawn Marie Davis, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Although mineral sunscreens (more on them below) are effective immediately, chemical sunscreens need to be absorbed before they become effective. Besides not applying enough in the beginning, most people don’t reapply sunscreen frequently.

The Skin Cancer Foundation advises reapplying sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or heavy sweating, whichever comes first. This holds true regardless of a product’s SPF. Sunscreen of SPF100 provides more protection, not longer protection.

Do I need to wear sunscreen if I’m staying indoors?

DiAnne Davis, a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Dallas, Texas, urges her patients to apply sunscreen every morning, as part of their normal, daily routine. Protecting your skin is as essential as brushing your teeth, she says, and making sunscreen a habit is the best way to ensure that you are protected 24/7/365.

And the “365” isn’t just for show. Davis says that people always need to consider sun protection, even in the winter, on cloudy days, and even, yes, when you’re indoors and near a window. While normal light bulbs and computer screens don’t damage your skin, certain types of UV rays can get through glass windows in cars and homes. Even if you’re not outside, your skin can still get damaged.

“Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender, or race,” she says.

Will sunblock prevent me from getting enough vitamin D?

Don’t worry about sunscreen use causing low vitamin D levels, says Dawn Marie Davis. As little as 15 minutes of sun exposure each week—the kind you’re likely to get walking to and from your car, on parts of your skin that are less than 100 percent protected—is adequate for vitamin D protection. Fortified foods and nutritional supplements are a far safer way to raise vitamin D levels than sun exposure, she said.

(The truth about immune-boosting supplements.)

What about mineral vs. chemical sunscreen. Are they safe?

Both mineral and chemical sunscreens prevent UV rays from harming your skin, but they do so in different ways. Mineral sunscreen lotions contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These minerals sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays before they can cause damage. Chemical sunscreens contain oxybenzone or octinoxate, compounds then absorb the UV rays instead of your skin.

Mineral sunscreens have historically left a white cast on the skin when applied, although newer formulations have dramatically improved that harmless but unpopular issue, says Adele Haimovic, a dermatologist in New York City. She recommends mineral sunscreens for people with sensitive skin. Because they aren’t absorbed, they are less likely to cause reactions.

The Environmental Working Group and other consumer organizations have raised concerns about the safety of oxybenzone. They point to evidence that the chemical is an endocrine disruptor (a catch-all term for compounds that affect hormones and other functions of the endocrine system), and cite a January 2020 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found that six active ingredients in chemical sunscreen were absorbed in the body.

(How to figure out which sunscreens are best for you—and the planet.)

However, all the dermatologists who spoke with National Geographic affirmed the safety of chemical sunscreens. People who do have concerns about oxybenzone should use mineral sunscreen rather than refraining from any sun protection, Gohara says.

“If you’re applying every two hours and applying in the right amount, it becomes a matter of personal preference,” she says. “The sunscreen that works best is the one that you’re going to wear.”

Some sunscreen is labeled ‘reef-safe.’ What does this mean?

Some active ingredients in chemical sunscreen are also being identified as harmful to delicate coral reefs. It’s why Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in 2018. But Haimovic says that the issue is still an open question.

“More research is needed on this topic,” she says. With coral reefs under threat from so many sources, including climate change and pollution, it’s hard to know what impact sunscreen is having.

I’ve heard sunscreen is better in Europe and Korea. Is that true?

It’s complicated. But experts say that sunscreen in the U.S. is pretty good and most countries have similar rules to how they rate sun protection.

If I have darker skin, do I still need sunblock?

Absolutely, Davis says. Melanin is a skin pigment that serves as a natural sunscreen, she explains. The average SPF provided by melanin in people with more highly pigmented skin ranges from an SPF of 3 to an SPF of 13, far below recommended levels of SPF 30. What this means is that people of color have some extra sun protection but not enough to forgo sunscreen.

Do I need to worry about expiration dates on sunscreen?

Here, our expert advice was mixed. Mayo’s Davis says that consumers should pay close attention to expiration dates. Using expired sunscreen, she explains, raises the possibility that it may have lost some efficacy. Another concern? The growth of harmful bacteria.

Still, Gohara and Papadeas say that the dates on bottles should be taken with a grain of salt.

“If your sunscreen expires today, you can probably use it for another year,” Papadeas says. However, that’s only as long as the ingredients don’t begin to separate, which is a sign your sunscreen is losing efficacy.

So if you have a bottle that’s a little past its use-by date, it’s probably fine. The biggest concern Gohara has about expired sunscreen is that it’s a sign you’re probably not using enough.

“One bottle of sunscreen shouldn’t last you more than a couple of months if you’re using it correctly,” she says.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : National Geographic – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/sunscreen-spf-skincare-exposure-protection-explained

Tags: expiresciencesunscreen
Previous Post

Kids need sunglasses as much as—or more than—adults. Here’s why.

Next Post

How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made a lasting impact

Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

June 25, 2025
City council approves Sports Illustrated Resort – WBRC 6 News

City Council Approves Exciting New Sports Illustrated Resort Project

June 25, 2025
MEPAG Search for Life – Science Analysis Group Science Community Virtual Workshops – astrobiology.com

MEPAG Search for Life – Science Analysis Group Science Community Virtual Workshops – astrobiology.com

June 25, 2025
Volusia County Marine Science Center reopens to the public – Spectrum News 13

Volusia County Marine Science Center Welcomes Visitors Once Again

June 25, 2025

Boss Lifestyle’ Ponzi Scheme Mastermind Admits Guilt in $23 Million Fraud Scandal

June 25, 2025
Exclusive | Stablecoin World Opens Up to Main Street Banks – WSJ

Exclusive | Stablecoin World Opens Up to Main Street Banks – WSJ

June 25, 2025
UK calls China a major challenge but an essential economic partner – AP News

UK Labels China a Major Challenge While Emphasizing Its Role as a Vital Economic Partner

June 25, 2025
George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

June 25, 2025
Neera Tanden defends use of presidential autopen, denies covering up Biden’s health – WSYX

Neera Tanden Defends Use of Presidential Autopen, Rejects Claims of Concealing Biden’s Health Information

June 25, 2025
Blake Farenthold, 63, Congressman Who Quit in Harassment Case, Dies – The New York Times

Former Congressman Blake Farenthold, Who Resigned Amid Harassment Scandal, Dies at 63

June 25, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (698)
  • Economy (716)
  • Entertainment (21,612)
  • General (15,556)
  • Health (9,755)
  • Lifestyle (721)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (718)
  • Politics (723)
  • Science (15,934)
  • Sports (21,213)
  • Technology (15,702)
  • World (696)

Recent News

Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

June 25, 2025
City council approves Sports Illustrated Resort – WBRC 6 News

City Council Approves Exciting New Sports Illustrated Resort Project

June 25, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version