Photo by Shazmyn Ali on Unsplash 

Although we enjoy our daily dose of “sunshine vitamin D” the use of sunscreen is recommended by dermatologists during all days of the year—even on cloudy days—but especially during the summer it is essential to protect our skin from prolonged UVA, UVB, and reduce the risk of developing sun damage or skin cancer.  While outdoors, insect repellent is also essential, which prevents us from having the annoying bites and above all to prevent any infected mosquito from spreading a virus such as zika or chikungunya.

SUNSCREEN

What sunscreen should we use?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, has an SPF 30 or higher and is water resistant. The SPF is the sun protection factor, it is a relative measure of how well a sunscreen protects against ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. But the intensity and wavelength distribution of UVB rays varies throughout the day and according to the location, this is why no matter what SPF you use, the sunscreen should be applied every two hours or immediately after contact with water or sweat. According to Consumer Reports, the SPF factor does not provide information on how well a sunscreen protects against UVA rays. That is why you need to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. However, no sunscreen blocks 100 percent of UVA or UVB rays. The breakdown: SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, SPF 50 blocks 98% and SPF 100 blocks 99%.

Consumer Reports conducted tests in a laboratory to verify the protection of different sunscreens and found that the SPF numbers on the labels are not always a reliable measure of how much protection to obtain. That does not mean that the products are not protective at all, but you may not be getting the degree of protection you think it is.

About mineral sunscreens

There are reports on the health effects of the chemical ingredients of sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. Some experts are concerned about the side effects of these chemicals once they have been absorbed through the skin. The Food and Drug Administration regulates sunscreens to ensure they meet safety and efficacy standards. To improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of sunscreens, the FDA issued a proposed rule on February 21, 2019 that describes the proposed updated requirements for sunscreens. Considering the public health benefits of using sunscreen, Americans should continue to use a sunscreen with other sun protection measures (like clothing) as this important regulatory effort advances.

In pursuit of a chemical-free lifestyle, it’s highly recommended to use sunscreen without these ingredients and choose one that contains active mineral ingredients, such as non-nano zinc oxide, and also practice other measures of solar protection. However, regarding the Consumer Reports mineral sunscreen tests, those that contain only titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or both as active ingredients, have been found to not provide superior protection against SPF and UVA and have a variation minimum of SPF.

How should we use sunscreen properly?

• For the sunscreen to work properly, it is important to shake it first before use because it helps distribute the active ingredients throughout the sunscreen.
• Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun and you should use enough, it is advised to use approximately 1 ounce to completely cover your body. It should be applied every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or sweating.
• If you chose to use a sunscreen spray you should avoid spraying them directly on your face or inhale it. Instead, spray sunscreen on your hands, then apply it on your face. If you use a spray on a child, spray sunscreen on your hands and rub it over the child’s skin. Sprays are flammable, so let them dry before approaching an open flame.
• Check the expiration date. If there’s none, it’s standard to assume it’s good for 3 years past its purchase date per FDA labeling regulations. Some sunscreens, like Badger’s, have an “open jar” icon with a number such as “12M” or “18M” where the “M” stands for months. So label your bottle with the opening date, or, your own expiration date accordingly.

INSECT REPELLENT

Choosing the right repellent is essential, and one of the most important factors in the protection time, as well as the active ingredients and concentration for the effectiveness and safety of our health. There are insect repellents with different active ingredients, among them the most common, DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, and IR3535.

Consumer Reports has performed laboratory tests with different brands of insect repellents and the highest performance products contained one of three active ingredients: lemon oil, eucalyptus, or picaridin. These ingredients are safe, even for pregnant women, when they are used as directed.

DEET

This is one of the most commonly used chemicals found in insect and tick repellents and it’s important to be informed of its risks if using it. The tests showed that to protect it is not necessary to use higher concentrations of DEET, the products with 25 to 30 percent can provide lasting protection against mosquitoes and ticks. And some research suggests that higher concentrations and excessive doses may present risks, which include rashes and possibly even disorientation and seizures. This is why you should avoid repellents with more than 30 percent DEET and not use these products (or any insect repellent) in babies under 2 months. When used as directed, DEET is considered safe by many public health organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Organization.

Picaridin

According to the Environmental Working Group, picaridin was developed by Bayer AG in the 1980s and sold in the USA. Since 2005, it has very low inhalation toxicity, it is not known to irritate the skin and does not have an acrid odor like DEET. It evaporates from the skin more slowly than DEET or IR3535, and can repel insects for longer periods of time. Picaridin does not have the same neurotoxicity problems as DEET, it is a good alternative to DEET. 20% concentration of picaridin products are recommended. Although picaridin is considered safe, it can irritate the skin and eyes, so you should use it as directed.

IR3535

The IR3535, whose full chemical name is 3- [N-butyl-N-acetyl] -aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester, is structurally similar to the naturally occurring amino acid B-alanine. IR3535 can be very irritating to the eyes, and like DEET, it can dissolve or damage plastics. The manufacturer recommends avoiding contact with plastics other than polyethylene and polypropylene.

The performance of IR3535 is similar or slightly less effective than DEET and picaridin against mosquitoes. In the Consumer Reports tests, products with IR3535 were less effective (compared to DEET, picaridin and OLE), offering limited protection. The IR3535 is an artificial compound that is structurally similar to a natural amino acid. And 2-Undecanone is a synthesized version of a compound found in rue, wild tomatoes, and several other plants.

Both products seem relatively safe, but as with all repellents, they should be used with caution, especially in children.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

According to EWG, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is the commercial name of the repellent that originated as an extract from the native eucalyptus tree of Australia. The tree extract is refined to intensify the concentration of the natural substance for -menthane-3,8-diol, also known as PMD, from 1 to 65 percent. The resulting oil is very different from unprocessed tree oil.

In the Consumer Reports test, products containing 30 percent lemon eucalyptus oil (OLE) performed well, keeping mosquitoes and ticks away for at least 7 hours. OLE also appears to be relatively safe when used correctly, although it can cause temporary eye injuries, and the FDA recommends not using it in children under 3 years of age. Because the dangers to children have not been thoroughly explored.

OLE is not an essential oil, and none of the products that were tested in the Consumer Reports laboratory with essential oils, including cedar, cinnamon, citronella, clove, geranium, lemongrass, rosemary, and mint, provided adequate protection and often fails in less than half an hour.

How to properly use the insect repellent?

• Read and follow the instructions on the label to ensure proper use. Do not overuse the products, but be sure to apply the amount of repellent indicated on the label.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first, let it dry and then apply insect repellent. Do not use sunscreen that contains insect repellent, as sunscreen should be applied generously and frequently, while insect repellent should be applied sparingly.
• Apply repellents only on exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not use under clothing.
• When using sprays, do not spray directly on the face, spray hands first and then apply to face.
• Never use repellents on cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not spray in closed areas.
• Avoid breathing an aerosol product.
• Do not use it near food.
• Check the expiration date.
• Check the label for warnings about flammability. If so, do not use around open flames or lit cigarettes.