I use spray sunscreens all summer
because they're so easy to put on. But are they as good as lotions?
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There are many things to love
about spray sunscreens. But if you think just a few haphazard spritzes will
provide adequate protection against the sun's harmful rays, think again,
dermatologists say.
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Spray sunscreens are popular
because they're so easy to use, said Dr. Jean Charles, a dermatologist in Cedar
Park, Texas. Spraying lets you target large swaths of the body, including
hard-to-reach spots like your back.
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Sprays tend to be lighter, less
"sticky, oily and heavy," and less likely to leave a white residue
than lotions, said Dr. David Kim, a cosmetic dermatologist at Idriss
Dermatology in New York City. However, sometimes it's difficult to tell if the
sunscreen is evenly distributed, said Dr. Maral Kibarian Skelsey, a clinical
associate professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical School.
When you apply it on a windy day, more might float into the air than onto your
body. "There's always a risk that you are going to miss spots," Dr.
Charles said. With lotions, you can see where it's going.
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According to the American Academy
of Dermatology, you need about an ounce of sunscreen to cover your entire body.
This amount can be hard to gauge with a spray, so the academy recommends
holding the nozzle about an inch from your body and spraying until your skin
glistens.
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The most important step is to rub
in the sunscreen after applying it. If you don't, the skin may not be evenly
covered, Dr. Kim said. "I've seen people on the beach just spray it and
that's it."
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Many popular products also
contain flammable gases like propane, butane or isobutane, which propel the
sunscreen onto your skin and could pose a burn hazard if applied or worn while
smoking or near an open flame.
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Some spray sunscreens also
contain alcohol, which can irritate and dry out the skin, Dr. Charles said.
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Spray sunscreens have the same
active ingredients as lotions, Dr. Skelsey said, so they should be just as
protective as lotions - if used correctly. If you have sensitive skin, Dr.
Skelsey recommended mineral-based spray or lotion sunscreens with zinc oxide or
titanium dioxide as their active ingredients; they're less likely to cause
irritation or allergic reactions. And note that a more expensive, high-end or
luxury product is not necessarily better than a cheaper one, she said.
"You can get a very good sunscreen at a drugstore."
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Another option: Spray it onto
your hands and smear it over your body. Then, reapply it as you would any
sunscreen, every two hours - or more frequently if you're swimming or sweating.
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Be careful not to inhale spray
sunscreen; the A.A.D. suggests applying it to your hands first and then rubbing
it onto your face. And the Food and Drug Administration recommends not leaving
sunscreen in direct sunlight because it can reduce its effectiveness. Instead,
keep the containers = in the shade or wrapped in a towel.
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"The best sunscreen is the
one that you will actually use," Dr. Kim said, so choose any type of
product you like. If that's a spray sunscreen, "go for it," he said.
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However, all of the experts said
they typically recommend lotion over sprays, since most people tend to apply
spray sunscreens incorrectly. But that doesn't mean sprays aren't effective,
they said.
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"I don't think-one's
necessarily better than the other," Dr. Charles added, "as long as
it's being rubbed in and the application is even."
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Erica Sweeney
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