ROANOKE (WSLS10)-- With the ability to help protect us from skin cancer, painful sunburn and wrinkles, sunscreen is essential. There are many different types and brands of sun protection and depending on our age and skin type, one really may be a better fit for us than another.
With kids, sprays are often easier to use because you can put them on while they're still wet and don't have to spend as long rubbing them in, like lotions. But when you're buying for kids, doctors say check the ingredients.
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"Sometimes the sunscreens can sting and burn, especially on their face," says Carilion Clinic Dermatologist, Dr. Philip Wakefield. "Once they've experienced that, it's hard to get sunscreen on them again. So starting off with a sensitive skin or chemical free sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, these compounds tend to sting less. That can be a way of introducing them to sunscreen that will be tolerable."
When it comes to teens, many of them worry that sunscreen will clog their pores and lead to acne-- but there are lighter, oil free sunscreens that will fit their needs and keep them from breaking out.
Depending on our skin type and what we're using the sunscreen for, there may be one kind of sunscreen that works better than another.
"For people with dry skin, use lotions and creams," explains Dr. Wakefield. "For hair, sprays or gels may be more suitable. If you're going to be swimming you may have to switch up what you use, because some things may be washed off, like gels."
Especially when swimming or playing sports, Dr. Wakefield says he sees people wiping the water or sweat out of their eyes, which is also wiping off the sunscreen. That's why experts say its so important to continue reapplying throughout the day.
Dermatologists say the idea that sunscreen is bad after a year or won't last from one summer to the next is now a myth. The FDA requires that sunscreen lasts for three years, so it is okay to pull out that bottle you bought last summer. Dr. Wakefield says unless a sunscreen has an expiration date, we can expect it to last about three years.
"However, if you keep it in a really hot car, that's the biggest problem, it gets overheated and may degrade the chemicals in it," he says. "With intense heat, it may be ruined very quickly. Especially if it looks discolored, if you pour it out and see the water separating out, it's better not to use it at all."
Consumer reports tested out 60 different sunscreens to see if they delivered on the protection that they claim, especially when being waterproof.
Here are the top sunscreen lotions:
Pure Defense SPF 50, $6
Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50, $8
No-Ad Sport SPF 50, $10
The best tested spray sunscreens:
Equate Sport Continuous Spray from Walmart, $5
DG Body Sport SPF 30 from Dollar General, $5