Skin :: Top 10 tips to protect skin in summer

As temperatures rise and more time is spent outside, Dr. Karl Gruber, a noted pathologist and founder of LUCA Sunscreen, reminds us of the dangers of sun exposure and how to protect ourselves and our children from the risks of skin cancer.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and in its honor Dr. Gruber wants us to understand how to protect ourselves from the sun’s dangerous rays and the most common and most preventable of all cancers. Skin cancer accounts for about half of all cancer cases in the United States. Ironically, more than 80 percent of skin cancers could be prevented by protecting ourselves from the sun’s rays.

To reduce the risk of skin cancer, Dr. Gruber recommends these top 10 tips and facts for adults and children:

1. SPF (Sun Protection Factor) only provides information about the level of UVB protection, and nothing about UVA protection. Since penetrating UVA rays remain constant all day, consumers must use a sunscreen with both good UVB and UVA protection.
2. The level of UVB protection plateaus with an SPF 30. SPF values over 30 are meaningless.
3. Use a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen with a critical wavelength over 370nm for protection against UVA/UVB rays. Your doctor or skin care specialist should know the critical wavelength of the products they recommend.
4. Don’t skimp on sunscreen. The recommended amount is 1.5 ounces, but most people apply only half the necessary amount.
5. Apply sunscreen correctly — to clean, dry skin about 30 minutes before going outside.
6. Reapply sunscreen regularly, every 2-3 hours, especially after being in the water or sweating.
7. Avoid direct sunlight between the peak sun hours of 11am and 3pm. Sun intensity increases with altitude. Amazingly, one will sunburn in 14 minutes on Miami Beach as opposed to 8 minutes in Denver. Skiers and pilots beware.
8. Use sunscreen every day — even in cloudy weather when 80% of UV rays are still present.
9. Cover up with loose clothing, a 2-3-inch brimmed hat and sunglasses with 100% UV protection.
10. Babies and children need even greater protection from the sun as most sun damage is caused before the age of 18.

“Most people don’t understand the complexities of sun protection and are confused by competing assertions from manufacturers — whether it’s higher SPF levels, broad-spectrum protection, all-day protection, or other marketing claims, ” said Dr. Gruber, who developed LUCA(TM) Sunscreen with his own young family in mind. “In this case, what you don’t know could hurt you.”

Over the counter sunscreen products use the familiar SPF system to rate the level of protection against the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that causes sunburn. The rating (SPF15, SPF30, etc.) indicates how much longer a person can be in the sun before burning than when not wearing sunscreen.

Featuring breakthrough Polycrylene(R) technology, LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is the most advanced broad-spectrum protection on the U.S. market and is better at blocking UVA radiation than other sunscreens sold in the U.S., effectively shielding the skin for up to six hours from the ultraviolet radiation that is linked to premature aging, skin cancer and melanoma.

And LUCA is the first sunscreen on the U.S. market to back up its UVA protection claims with a critical wavelength value printed on the bottle. Critical wavelength is an international rating system for UVA protection and LUCA’s critical wavelength of 383nm is the highest available in the U.S.

LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is water resistant, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and designed for use as a daily moisturizer. It is specially formulated for children and adults with sensitive skin. LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is available in SPF 15 and SPF 30, both with a 383nm critical wavelength. The MSRP is $30.00 for 3.5 ounces.

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