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Don’t Skimp on Your SPF!

Why SPF is important for your skin

Before you step out of the house this winter, protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays with SPF. Even though the summer days have long gone, the need for sun protection still remains. Skimping on the SPF can hurt you in the long run, causing wrinkles, skin discolorations and even skin cancer. Here’s what you should know:

What is SPF?

SPF stands for sun protection factor, and is an indicator of the amount of time you can spend in the sun before getting burned. Unfortunately, SPF is only a measurement of protection from the sun’s UVB rays, and not the more silent threats of UVA rays.

What’s the difference between UVB and UVA rays?

UVB rays are the culprits behind nasty, blistering sunburns. UVA rays, however, are the primary cause of skin cancer and wrinkles. You can protect yourself from UVB rays with any type of SPF protection, but you will need to look for sunblock with specific ingredients in order to protect yourself from UVA rays.

Can I protect myself from UVB and UVA rays with a greater SPF?

SPF refers to a product’s ability to protect against sunburn caused by UVB rays. A higher SPF only provides a small increase in protection. To determine if your sunscreen can also protect you from harmful UVA rays, check the formula for one of the following active ingredients:

  • Zinc oxide
  • Titanium dioxide
  • Avobenzone (or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane)
  • Mexoryl SX (or ecamsule)
  • Tinosorb
Can I combine two different SPFs to get one SPF number?

Unfortunately, SPF doesn’t work that way. Combining sunscreen products doesn’t mean that their individual SPF numbers will add up to one greater SPF number. However, layering is still beneficial!

Remember to apply sunscreen every day to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UVB and UVA rays. Even if the sun isn’t shining bright this winter, its rays can still cause damage, reflecting against the clouds and snow and penetrating through glass windows that aren’t coated for UV protection. Applying the right type of sunblock or sunscreen is the only way to ensure you are protecting your skin.

Have You Heard of Solar Purpura?

Spotted frogs and spotted dogs are a normal sight to see, but what about those spots on your hands? In most cases, dark purple blotches found on the forearms and hands are a symptom of actinic purpura.

Actinic, or Solar Purpura, results from sun-induced damage to the connective tissue of the dermis. The condition is benign and usually lasts between 1 and 3 weeks. Actinic purpura is extremely common in elderly individuals and its prevalence increases with years of exposure to the sun. Purpuric patches are largest on your forearms and hands. Patches may also occur on the neck and face.

The condition usually follows minor trauma to the affected area, but it is important to remember that the blood vessel walls that leak red blood cells are weakened over time by ultraviolet radiation or sun exposure. Actinic purpura does not require medical care, but sunscreens that provide both UV-A and UV-B should be applied daily to prevent further damage to the skin.

Contact our dermatologists if you’re experiencing symptoms of actinic purpura and want to know more!

If you have any questions about solar purpura or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.