10 facts about skin cancer: there's more to preventing skin cancer than just slathering on a sunscreen. Here, information you may not know, but should - Beauty in Action

Shape, August, 2003 by Mary Rose Almasi

To avoid skin cancer -- the most common of all cancers -- you've got to know your enemy. But that goes beyond learning to recognize a cancerous mole and putting on sunscreen at the beach. It's what you don't know that can make all the difference in maintaining your skin's (and body's) beauty, health and vitality. Here's the latest sun and skin news that you may not be aware of, but should be, from top researchers and dermatologists.

1. The numbers on your sunscreen don't tell the whole story. Think your SPF 30 is twice as potent as SPF 15? Think again. "Often, people believe they're getting more coverage than they actually are," says James Spencer, M.D., director of dermatologic surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. In fact, SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of rays, but SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, just 4 percent more. For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering dropping the SPF numbers in favor of phrases like "moderate coverage" and "high coverage." Until that happens (most likely in the next few years), use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15; it will block both ultraviolet (UV) A and B rays. We like Coppertone Spectra 3 Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($10; at drugstores), Bain de Soleil Oil-Free Protecteur Faces SPF 30 ($9; at drugstores) and Lancome Soleil Ultra Sunscreen SPF 4O ($27.50; Iancome.com). And reapply often, particularly after you've been sweating or swimming. "Water- resistant," Spencer cautions, "doesn't buy you any extra time."

2. Skin cancer can happen where you least expect it. Although most skin cancers occur on the face, there's a rise in UV-induced growths in less-exposed places like under the breasts and areas normally covered by underwear. A likely reason: the use of tanning beds (users are often nude), which has been associated with a higher risk for all skin cancers, explains Mark Naylor, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City.

Even if you don't visit tanning salons, certain areas of the body can be more susceptible to cancer because they're often missed when applying sun protection. So coat these trouble spots (like lips, ears, hands, toes, scalp or the part in your hair) with easy-to-apply sunscreens like Clinique Lip/Eye SPF 30 Sun Block ($15.50; clinique.com) or Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Spray SPF 30 ($9; at drugstores). Also perform a monthly head-to-toe skin self-exam and visit your dermatologist yearly for a full-body skin check.

3. Your eyes need protection too. Cataracts and macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness after age 65, for which there is no cure) have been strongly linked with UV exposure. Prevention is easy: Opt for UV-coated eyeglasses or contact lenses, and make a daily habit of wearing sunglasses (check hang tags, which should read "100 percent UV protection"), says Monica L. Monica, M.D., Ph.D., a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. An added bonus: Sunglasses shield delicate eye-area skin too, helping to prevent crow's-feet.

4. The sun is making you age faster than you think. Mottled and "crinkled" skin and sunspots are all signs of sun damage, not age or genetics. "People are shocked when I tell them that what they're seeing is sun-induced," says Tina Alster, M.D., director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. And it isn't a face-only issue. "You can always tell how old someone is by looking at her neck, chest and hands," she adds. Apply lotions with an SPF of at least 15 every day to guard against incidental exposure. Try Eucerin Daily Sun Defense SPF 15 sensitive-skin lotion ($8; at drugstores). And treat the damage you've already sustained with anti-aging products that contain skin-lightening and anti-wrinkle ingredients like kojic acid and retinol. Try Ponds Dramatic Results Face and Neck Moisturizer ($13.29; at drugstores) or Chanel Precision Age Delay Rejuvenation Lotion ($60; gloss.com).

5. Aspirin may save your skin. Taking an anti-inflammatory drug like aspirin or ibuprofen soon after excessive sun exposure can ease inflammation and may even help block the chemical chain of events that leads to skin cancer. "It's like the emergency contraception of sun care," says Rodney Basler, M.D., a dermatologist in Lincoln, Nob. But it's not nearly as useful as a preventive measure and is meant for occasional use only. Basler recommends one dose as soon as possible after overexposure, and another the following morning.

6. Skin is susceptible to damage even under clothing. While covering up is still an effective way to prevent overexposure, a white cotton T-shirt blocks only about 80 percent of rays. But you can increase your clothes' protection level with laundry additives like Rit Sun Guard ($4; at supermarkets and drugstores), which adds protection that blocks about 96 percent of UVA and UVB rays after one washing.

7. Studies on antioxidants continue, but sunscreen is still skin's best protector. Topical antioxidants like vitamins C and E are beneficial to skin, but experts still aren't certain about the extent to which they actually protect against sun damage. However, new studies are promising. Duke University Medical Center researchers found that UV-induced DNA changes (which can lead to skin cancer) were reduced on skin treated with pure vitamin C and E compared to untreated skin. The theory: These vitamins work together to provide increased protection against damaging free radicals. (Find them in SkinCeuticals Primacy C + E, $115; skinceuticals.com.)