Dr Oz: Protect Your Skin This Summer
Dr Oz was busting summer myths and after talking about common summer food-related myths, he wanted to tackle the sunscreen myth that just won’t die. For the first time ever, Dr Oz was going to show viewers what some common myths are really doing to your skin with the help of a special UV camera. The first myth is that it’s okay to use that old bottle of sunscreen.
Kristie from the audience, admitted that sunscreen is expensive so if she doesn’t go through the whole bottle in one summer, she doesn’t see any reason why she should throw it away. The sunscreen she’s using right now is probably at least two years old. She placed her face in front of the UV camera before Dr Oz revealed the results, with dermatologist Dr Whitney Bowe.
Dr Oz: How Long Should You Keep Sunscreen?
Dr Oz took a closer look at common sunscreen myths to help make sure his viewers were properly protecting their skin this summer. (noodle93 / Flickr)
Dr Bowe explained that the small dark spots that appeared all over Kristie’s face under UV light, were areas where her skin’s DNA had been damaged by the sun. Kristie admitted the image was scary which is why she was thrilled to learn there was a lot she could do to improve the condition of her skin. First, she needed to replace her old sunscreen with a new bottle.
According to Dr Bowe, sunscreen is meant to last three years, but that’s if you store it in a cool, dry place. Always check the expiration date and try to keep it out of the heat and sun as much as possible.
Dr Oz: How Much Sunscreen Should You Use?
Dr Oz then tackled the myth that there’s no benefit to any sunscreen over SPF 30. Dr Bowe explained that sunscreens with higher SPF should offer more protection from the sun’s UV rays. But unfortunately, the answer isn’t that simple. An SPF of 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays so when you go above 30, the added benefit is minimal. However, the way the sunscreens are tested in a laboratory setting is entirely different than the way people are using them in real life.
If you want the SPF on the bottle, you should be applying a full shot glass worth of sunscreen to your face and exposed areas of your body. That’s likely a lot more than you’ve been using. You should also reapply every two hours if you’re in the sun and more frequently if you’re sweating or getting wet. However, for some people, a higher SPF may be worth it.
Dr Oz: Does Foundation With SPF Protect Your Skin?
Speaking of SPF, the third myth Dr Oz wanted to bust was that the SPF in your makeup is enough to protect your skin. Dr Oz welcomed Rebecca, who admitted that when she buys foundation, she makes sure to buy some with SPF to protect her skin the same way sunscreen would. Rebecca applied the makeup to half her face and then sunscreen to the other half her face, then took a picture with the special UV camera to see just how protected her skin was.
It was very obvious that the makeup hardly protected her skin at all, whereas the sunscreen provided proper protection. According to Dr Bowe, you have to apply seven times the amount of foundation the average woman would apply, to get the amount listed on the label. That’s why you should apply sunscreen first then apply your foundation over top.
Leave a Reply