Expert urges frequent use of high-protection sunscreen

Fears that chemicals in sunscreens could harm the skin are by far outweighed by the risk of skin cancer resulting from unprotected exposure to the sun, dermatologist Lawrence Scerri said.

Reacting to recent contributions to the press on the matter, Dr Scerri, the head of Boffa Hospital's dermatology unit, explained that no damage to the skin is caused when free radicals - which are formed when sunscreen molecules interact with the sun's ultraviolet rays - are released at the surface of the skin.

Free radicals that can lead to skin damage are released when UV rays reach sunscreen molecules that have penetrated deeper into the skin. However, reapplying sunscreen every two hours - as recommended by dermatologists - will eliminate this risk because the sunscreen will prevent the sun's rays from penetrating the skin, he pointed out.

People should choose sunscreens with a high Sun Protection Factor rating, Dr Scerri said. SPF is calculated at ideal laboratory conditions, and most people apply around half of what is required to give optimum protection.

Adults should not use a sunscreen with an SPF less than 20 while 30 plus is a must for children. Infants under six months should not be exposed to the sun at all.

He stressed that anybody staying in the sun for more than 20 minutes between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the ultra violet index is seven or more, should use sunscreen.

However, he warned against over-reliance on sunscreens to increase the time spent in the sun. Also, no sunscreen filters out all UV rays - whether the UVB responsible for sunburn and a large portion of skin cancers or the UVA responsible for skin aging, tanning and which also contribute to skin cancer.

He highlighted the importance of wearing protective clothing - including hats and tight-weaved clothing with longer sleeves - for added protection.

Although there was no harm in using cosmetics which had an SPF, they did not give one a licence to spend time in the sun, he added.