Alan Mauldin
July 03, 2008 10:20 pm
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MOULTRIE — This top-10 list isn’t funny, but it could help save lives, or at the least prevent some painful cases of sunburn.
The Environmental Working Group analyzed nearly 1,000 brand-name sun screen products and selected 10 top products and a second group of 10 recommended common brands, which includes two store brands.
A person’s chance of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, doubles if he has had five or more sunburns in a lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Melanoma is the number one cancer in men over the age of 50, ahead of cancers of the prostate, lung and colon, the organization said; men over 40 spend the most time outdoors and have the highest annual exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Men also may be less likely to wear sunscreen because of concerns about smell, greasiness, slippery fingers when playing sports and running in their eyes, the organization said.
Heading up Environmental Working Group’s top 10 common brands is Blue Lizard, which earned a 7 on a scale of 1-10 for its 30 SPF Australian sunscreen regular and sport lotions.
Store brands CVS with zinc oxide came in at number three, with Walgreens zinc oxide for face, nose and ears at number 10.
The top-10 products was headed by Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock SPF 30, with Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural SPF 30 coming in at number 10.
Sala Newsome, pharmacist at Medicine Shoppe in Moultrie, said that Blue Lizard’s chemical-free formula sunscreen is a product she recommends because it is less likely to be irritating for people with sensitive skin.
“Some of the sunscreens, but particularly if you’re putting them on sensitive skin, especially with kids, can cause irritation,” she said.
Sunscreens can either use a chemical block or physical block, or a combination of the two, with physical blocks irritating skin less, she said.
Newsome said she also recommends Parsol 1789 and SolBar brands.
Whatever product a person chooses, it is important to follow the directions, Newsome said.
“Most say they should be applied 20 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure,” she said. “That way it will have time to soak in. You do want to look for both UVA and UVB protection. That is something people want to look at when they’re comparing sunscreen.”
And regardless of whether a sunscreen is supposed to be water-proof, periodic re-application is a good idea.
“Re-application after you’re at the beach or pool is really important,” Newsome said.
For more information, visit www.skincancer.org or www.ewg.org.
Top 10 sunscreen list
1. Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30
2. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+
3. California Baby Sunblock Stick no fragrance, SPF 30+
4. Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
5. Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum
6. Lavera Sunscreen neutral, SPF 40
7. Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 35
8. UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+
9. Sun Science sport formula, SPF 30
10. Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural, SPF 30+
Top common brands
1. Blue Lizard, anything without oxybenzone
2. California Baby, anything with SPF 30+
3. CVS, with zinc oxide
4. Jason Natural Cosmetics, Sunbrellas mineral-based sunblock
5. Kiss My Face, “paraben-free” series
6. Neutrogena, sensitive skin sunblock
7. Olay, Defense Daily UV moisturizer with zinc
8. SkinCeuticals, Physical UV Defense
9. Solar Sense, clear zinc for face
10. Walgreens, zinc oxide for face, nose and ears
Source: Environmental Working Group
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