Your Body: Let the Sun Shine

Play it safe with our guide to healthy summer skin and hair

By Meredith Asplundh

Let's face it

Simko

When you have fun in the sun, it's no day at the beach for your skin. The National Cancer Institute reports that skin cancer is the most common type of the disease in the U.S., and that by age 65 nearly half of all Americans will have suffered at least one occurrence. Sure, you slather on sunscreen, but there's no such thing as 100% protection. Relax. Our expert tips will arm you with the best defense under the sun.

Sunblock basics : "Even the best blocks shield you from only 90 percent of the sun's harmful rays," says dermatologist Alexa Boer Kimball, physician for Tiger Adventure, an adventure-racing team. UVB rays burn the top layers of skin, but the deeper-penetrating UVA rays can cause long-term damage and skin cancer. Look for sunscreens -- no less than SPF 15 -- that protect against both types of rays with avobenzone (a.k.a. Parsol 1789) and the physical blocks zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Apply at least 20 minutes before heading out and be generous; you need about an ounce for your entire body. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating. If a sunscreen is more than two years old, toss it.

Saving face : A baseball cap keeps your nose and scalp shaded but not your ears, chin or cheeks. Deal with it and get a hat with a four-inch brim. Don't forget your eyes. Prevent cataracts and other sun-related eye diseases with UV-filtering shades (like the Mossimos above).

Clothes call : Typical summer fabrics have an SPF of about 6.5, but some are better sun blockers than others according to research from the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Polyester crepe, bleached cotton and viscose are virtually transparent in the sun, while unbleached cotton, high-luster polyesters and thin silks reflect radiation. The tighter the weave or knit, the higher the SPF; to check, hold fabric to the light. Darker clothes have a higher SPF, but they're hotter too. (Stay dry too: A third of a material's SPF is lost when it's wet.)

The sunscreen scene

David Bashaw

Thanks to the latest sticks, sprays and high-tech formulas, practicing sun safety has become as much of a no-brainer as buckling your seat belt. The all-natural ingredients, like titanium oxide and aloe vera, in Kiss My Face Sun Block protect against both UVA and UVB rays and are great for sensitive skin. For no-mess, quick-wipe applications on burn-prone areas (moles, nose, ears, lips), try the pocket-portable Coppertone Sport Sunblock Stick or Dermalogica Sun Swipes . The super-fast-drying Drench Sport Waterproof Spray makes head-to-toe applications -- and those all-important reapplications -- easy, especially on hard-to-reach spots like your back. Bath & Body Works Sunscreen Lotion gives its UVA-UVB block an extra boost with vitamins and antioxidants. Finally, from the "why didn't they think of this sooner?" department comes Bull Frog Sparkle Block , tinted green, of course, to ensure complete coverage. (Don't worry, it turns transparent when rubbed in.)

Where to Find It: Aloe Gator: 800-531-5731; The American Skin Company: 800-260-8143; Banana Boat: 800-SAFE-SUN; Bath & Body Works: 800-395-1001; Body Drench: 800-722-2639; Bull Frog: www.bullfrogsunblock. com; Coppertone: 800-842-4090; Dermalogica: 800-831-5150; H2O Plus: 800-242-2284; Kiss My Face: 800-262-KISS; L'Oréal: 800-345-5014; Philip Kingsley: 800-475-1653; René Furterer: 800-522-8285.

 
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