Listen to your Mom: wear sunscreen

The weather in Chicago may not be anywhere near tropical, but this Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. For many, the long weekend means taking time to enjoy the great outdoors.

But as mom always warns, don't forget to wear sunscreen.

However, dermatologist Sarah Stein at the University of Chicago Medical Center doesn't necessarily agree with the age-old sunscreen advice. Stein maintains that smart sun safety begins with educating people on methods of skin protection other than simply slathering on the lotion.

Stein takes care of children. She is assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Chicago Medical Center and answered questions about summer skin protection.

Q: What should people do differently in the spring and summer to protect their skin from the sun?
A (Stein): It's not necessarily what they should do differently; people should be doing something to protect their skin year 'round. But it's important to bring it to people's attention at this time of year.

People should try to stay out of sun during peak hours, which are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you can't avoid being outdoors you should try staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and of course, wearing suntan lotion.

One issue is people think of lotion as their first line of defense, whereas it should really be the last line of defense. Because the problem is, people run into failures using lotion.

Q: What do you mean by sunscreen failure?
A: Using out-of-date products, not applying enough product, not applying frequently enough.

There are better products we know now that protect against UV-B and UV-A rays. Because historically, we thought that UV-B rays were the ones that cause sunburn, but now we know that UV-A rays do a lot of damage as well. The newer products protect against all of those rays, but it still comes down to people using them correctly.

Q: What SPF lotion to you recommend for daily use?
A: It's important that people understand that SPF ratings are only for UV-B protection. So you can't necessarily rely on SPF to tell you how well a lotion protects. We're kind of stuck looking at product labels.

There is no uniformity in how labeling is done for UV-A protection, some say broad spectrum coverage.

But I tell people that anything greater than 30 is probably fairly equivalent.

Q: How much and how often should you apply lotion on an average day?
A: It depends on the product. Some products are now saying they are effective up to five hours, but historical teaching generally says to apply every two to three hours.

If you are involved in swimming, or heavy activity that produces a lot of sweating, you may have to apply more frequently, depending on how water resistant the product is. And if you towel off, you're going to want to reapply for that reason, too.

Q: If you plan on sunbathing, what SPF lotion should you use?
A: No dermatologist would recommend that anyone go sunbathing, but if you want to spend time on the beach, bring an umbrella, wear protective clothing, like hats, pants, jackets, to help shade the skin.

Q: On average, how much suntan lotion should you apply?
A: There are special recommendations. I think for an adult in a bathing suit, it's something like 2 ounces. But I suggest you read the instructions on the label.

Q: As far as suntan lotions, do you recommend a certain brand over another?
A: Dermatologist don't usually recommend specific brands, at least I don't for my practice.

Q: As far as expiration dates, how do you know when you should throw out an old bottle of lotion?
A: They [expiration dates] should be on the bottle.

Q: What are some common sun misconceptions that people seem to have about skin safety?
A: People assume on a cloudy day that they're not going to get a sunburn, and that's not the case. The same thing goes for a cooler day. Also, you're not 100 percent protected in the shade because there could be reflection on, say, the water. And I think people think if they put their sunscreen on first thing in the morning they're think they're protected all day.

And of course, the belief that they're safer if they go get a tan at a tanning bed. Also people think that once they have a tan they're protected.

Q: So are tanning beds strictly off limits?
A: Yes. There is no such thing as a safe tan, unless it's using chemical self-tanner.

Q: Are there any other suggestions you want to give regarding sun safety?
A: I guess I want to say, if people are using self-tanner, they need to remember that that tan color they're getting on the skin, that it does not protect them.

I also want to reiterate, I think all the other ways we can protect ourselves from the sun are better than relying on sunscreen. And when you mention hats, they really need to have a broad brim around the entire hat to be adequate protection for the neck and ears. Like when people are using visors, they have to remember that that's really only protecting the face, not the neck and ears.