Don’t dismiss Mom’s sun concerns
By Jon Busdeker on May. 31, 2007
Dear Emily: I am going to the beach in a few weeks with some friends, and my mom is already getting on my case about suntan lotion and how bad the sun is for my skin. She wants me to promise that I will apply 45 SPF at least every two hours, or after I get out of the water (she doesn’t trust that any of the lotions out there are actually waterproof). I want to get a good tan, so do you have any suggestions on how to deal with an over-protective mom?
— Burnt Out With Rules
Dear Burnt Out: Look on the bright side — your mom is allowing you to go to the beach despite her fears!
Don’t go overboard on trying to make her ease up on her suntan lotion policy. As crazy as she may seem to you, she has a point. Many experts agree that sunbathers don’t use nearly enough lotion as they should. Plus, when you perspire, swim or wipe off with a towel, you lessen some of the sunscreen’s effectiveness.
As a result, many dermatologists encourage using sunscreen with a high SPF, like 30 or above.
Here is some other information that you may or may not which to share with mom: Some people say (and check with your doctor) that if you tend to sunbath you should take anti-oxidant supplements starting five days before the sunlight exposure. Studies show that both the topical application of anti-oxidants and the ingestion of supplemental anti-oxidants reduce sun damage.
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