7 SPF excuses that give you skin cancer

May is skin cancer awareness month, and despite the fact that women know they should wear sunscreen every day of the year, only 31% do, according to a recent poll by Prevention.com. And many of those who skip SPF feel guilty about it—so much so that 31% admit they've fibbed about putting on sunscreen because they're embarrassed about their bad habit. So what gives? If we all know that sunscreen helps to protect our skin from cancer and prevent signs of aging such as spots and wrinkles, why aren't more of us using it?

To find out, Prevention asked dermatologists to share some of the most common excuses women give for going outdoors unprotected. Read on and you'll discover there's really no good reason to skimp on sunscreen—you'll be healthier (and younger looking!) if you use it.

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1) "The chemicals in sunscreen are probably more dangerous than sun exposure"

Reality Check: Sunscreens have gotten some bad press lately, including claims that they contain cancer-causing ingredients. But a recently published review of the studies on which these claims are based should ease fears. "Many of the safety concerns are not well founded—they're based on petri dish or animal data that doesn't relate to humans," says Steven Wang, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, NJ, and coauthor of the review. For example, in one study, mice fed a whopping dose of oxybenzone, a UV-light absorber commonly found in sunscreens, exhibited estrogenic effects, which the researchers believe could cause cancer cells to grow more rapidly. But by Dr. Wang's calculations, it would take more than 250 years for someone who uses sunscreen daily to be exposed to the amount of oxybenzone used in the study.

Still worried? Use a sunscreen like Beyond Coastal Natural SPF 30 Sunscreen ($16; beyondcoastal.com), which has zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in lieu of chemical sunscreens.


2) "I don't get a lot of sun"

Reality Check: You don't have to be on the beach to soak up rays. Most people rack up 14 hours of casual UV exposure per week. And in one study, short spurts of UVA light twice a week resulted in significant damage to the fibers that keep skin smooth and firm in just 12 weeks. Makeup and a daily lotion with SPF are great steps, but "the protection is short-lived on hot, sunny days," says NYC dermatologist Arielle Kauvar, MD. Use a sweat-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on all sun-exposed areas to be safe. Supergoop! Save Face Sunscreen Serum SPF 30 ($32; supergoop.com) is decidedly ungoopy, meets our experts' guidelines, and works great under makeup. Another option: Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid SPF 50 ($13; drugstores).


3) "It's a drag to reapply sunscreen"

Reality Check: Five minutes every 2 hours--that's all it takes to apply the 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen recommended for protection when you're in a bathing suit or outdoors for extended periods. And when it's time to reapply, make it less messy with Coppertone's Foaming Lotion SPF 75 ($10; drugstores), which has a no-drip foam formula that spreads evenly and dries in seconds. A clear, continuous spray that doesn't require rubbing is great too, and some of the newest, such as Aveeno Hydrosport Sunblock Spray SPF 50 ($8; drugstores), adhere even to wet skin. Easy, right?

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4) "Sunscreen is too expensive"

Reality Check: As long as you pick one that clearly states it blocks both UVA and UVB rays, there's no need to break the bank when buying. "Research doesn't show any relationship between price and protection," reports Dr. Wang. Try Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF 30 Continuous Clear Spray ($10; drugstores).


5) "I don't need sunscreen because my skin is naturally dark"

Reality Check: "Skin cancer is color-blind," warns Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist in Montclair, NJ, and coauthor of Beautiful Skin of Color. In fact, skin cancer rates are increasing among Latinos—many of whom have dark skin. Mixed racial heritage may be one reason for the rise, says Vivian Bucay, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

"Hispanics are more genetically diverse than other groups, so even if they have dark skin, they could burn just as someone with fair German or Irish skin would," she says. Plus, those with dark skin may not recognize skin cancers as early in their development as people with light skin. (One study found advanced stages of melanoma at time of diagnosis in 18% of Hispanics and 26% of African Americans, compared with 12% of Caucasians.)

If that's not reason enough for SPF, Dr. Downie has one more: Sun deepens dark spots common in all women of color. Her protection pick: sheer, nonchalky Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 ($10; neutrogena.com).


6) "I look so good with a tan"

Reality Check: Let's take a moment to picture that woman with saggy, leathery tanned skin you saw at the beach last year… Did she look young and attractive? True, she's an extreme case, but dermatologists do point out the deeper your tan is, the dryer your skin gets, and less hydrated skin means any lines you do have are more visible. A golden glow doesn't make sun spots less noticeable either—in fact, in some cases, it can darken them. And when your tan does fade in September, just consider how many more of those spots you'll have. Instead, try the subtle sheen of Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen SPF 40($9; drugstores).

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7) "Skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer"

Reality Check: UVB rays lead to the development of the two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, triggering melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. While it's true that melanoma is usually curable when caught early, it still kills 8,000 Americans a year. And those who are lucky enough to recover from skin cancer aren't necessarily unscathed. Take basal cell carcinomas, for instance: "They penetrate deeply and slowly destroy healthy tissue," explains Andrew Kaufman, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Both the biopsy and the surgery to remove the lesions can leave a scar or, in rare cases, disfigurement.

Still not screaming for sunscreen? A number of studies also show that having skin cancer increases your risk of developing other cancers, including breast, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung, and kidney. One explanation: "Even a little UV light can weaken cells in the skin and compromise your immune surveillance," says Dr. Bucay. "It's like removing the security guards from a bank and allowing the robbers to come in."

How often do you apply SPF? Every day? Only at the beach?