Sunscreens

Abstract

It is well established that sun rays (UVA-B) are strongly efficient on the development of skin cancers and photoaging. Especially protection in the first ten years of life is much more important because of the increasing effect of the UV rays on skin cancers, that exposed in these years. Best way of the protection is clothing. Any dry and tightly woven cloth protects better than a high factor sunscreen. The protective effect of sunscreens against development of BCC and SCC and photoaging is well known but there are some hesitations about the protective effect against malignant melanoma. Despite these hesitations, using sunscreens for exposed areas are recommended. It is recommended also, to support it with avoidance from direct sun exposition, especially in the mid day, in summer. SPF should be over 15, and sunscreens should be applied 20-30 minutes before sun exposition, and should be repeated for every to hours in the beach, and for every four hours in daily life. (Turkderm 2009, 43 Suppl 1: 7-11)