Why you shouldn't rely on sunscreen to protect your skin, according to a scientist

The INSIDER Summary:Sunscreen can help protect your skin from UV rays, but it shouldn't be your only line of defense.Some studies show that people who use sunscreen alone get more sunburns than people who don't.David Andrews, PhD, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working group, says you shouldseekout shade andwear clothes in addition to usingsunscreen.We all apply sunscreen with the best of intentions: to reduce our exposure to UV rays that cause sunburn and increasethe risk of skin cancer. But relying on sunscreen alone can backfire in a big way.That's one of the biggest takeaways from the exhaustive annual sunscreen report just published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG)."In the studies that have been done to date, people who use sunscreen actually use it to spend more time in the sun, in which case you're really negating any potential benefit of the sunscreen," David Andrews, PhD, a senior scientist for the EWG, told INSIDER. "The sunscreen reduces the UV exposure, but if you end up spending much more time in the sun, you mayactually be getting more UV light, in which case you may not necessarily be doing better off."Seems paradoxical, but research shows it really does happen.Onestudy of about 3,000 Americans, for example, found no link between using sunscreen and getting fewer sunburns.Another found that increased sunscreen use was linked with increased sunburns among Swedish kids.This means sunscreen shouldn't be your only line of defense."We definitely recommend as a first step people seek shade, wear hats [and wear] clothing, if possible," Andrews said. Shade minimizes your actual exposure to sunlight ' and when you are in the sun, clothes can reduce burn risk by 27%, the EWG says. (Plus, unlike sunscreen, clothes don't ruboff or require messy reapplication.)Wear sunscreen to bolster your protection ' but make sure it's a sunscreen that really works.The EWG says to pickproductswith an SPF of 50 or lower. Sunscreenwith an SPF higher than that will only give youmarginally better protection, and itmight mislead youinto thinking youcan stay in the sun longer, thus exposing yourselfto more damaging rays.Next, make sure that your sunscreen protects against both UVAandUVB radiation. Both types harm skin, but lotsof sunscreens arelacking in their ability to protect you fromUVA rays, the EWG finds. To ensure you're getting the best UVA protection, choose a sunscreen with avabenzone (3% is a good amount) or zinc oxide. There's no singleconcentration of zinc oxide that works across the board' the amount in the sunscreen should increase as SPF increases. ButAndrews says a concentration about 15% to 20% zinc oxide is good for a product withSPF 30.And, yes, you've heard it a million times, but it always bear repeating: Don't forget to apply liberally (that means about a shot glass's worth of sunscreen for your whole body) and reapply often.Want help sorting through the many options in the sunscreen aisle' Check out the EWG's annual sunscreen guide for a ranking of popular brands andproducts.SEE ALSO:Americans have been making a huge diet mistake for 100 years ' here's what they should do insteadJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Science explains how sunscreen works
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