The Facts About Suncare

The FDA has set new standards which all sunscreen products will have to adhere to within the next three years. Lahaina Noon meets all standards and requirements set by the FDA now and in the future.

No sunscreen is waterproof... absolutely none. Lahaina Noon sunscreen offers the highest level of defense against sweat, water and other moisture.

Sunscreens with an SPF factor of 15 or greater were not introduced until 1984.

All sunscreen are labeled with an SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. The SPF acts like a multiplying factor. If you would normally be OK in the sun for 10 minutes, and you apply an SPF 15 sunscreen, you will be OK in the sun for 150 minutes. Lahaina Noon offers sunscreen up to SPF 45 which will protect up to 8 hours. Nothing can do any better no matter what the claim.

Skin cancer has become a major health issue. Collectively, skin cancers account for greater than 50% of all human malignancies. This year, over one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. alone. Of these, approximately 59,000 cases will involve melanoma - a particularly dangerous skin cancer that has doubled in incidence among Caucasians between 1986 and 2006. Another alarming trend: the increasing number of twenty- and thirty-something year old patients presenting with skin cancers.

Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays (UVR) appears to be the most important environmental factor in the development of skin cancer. Other types of injury may also play a role in certain individuals. For example, skin cancers occasionally arise in areas previously injured by blunt trauma, hot water or grease burns, and welding sparks. However, sun exposure is by far the most important risk factor and fortunately, the one over which we have the greatest control. Skin cancers typically do not occur until 20-50 years after the actual damage has occurred. Therefore, the damage one accumulates when young is often responsible for tumors that develop later in life.

Both UVA and UVB cause skin cancers.

Fortunately, there are relatively simple lifestyle measures that can greatly protect you. Please note that the following recommendations should be implemented, as much as possible, on a daily basis and year-round - not just when at the beach or pool. Also, an estimated 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs by age 18, so please teach these practices to your children and grandchildren. Infants can safely begin using sunscreens at age 6 months. By changing the habits of our children, we will truly make a difference in the battle against skin cancer.

To be effective, sunscreens need to be liberally applied approximately 20 minutes before going outdoors. Several studies suggest that people typically apply sunscreen too thinly. As a result, they do not achieve the full SPF protection promised on the packaging. Also, sunscreens need to be reapplied throughout the day, particularly after swimming, sweating, or exercising. Try to choose a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 or greater that provides both UVA and UVB (i.e. “broad spectrum”) protection. Look for products containing Parsol 1789 (UVA blocker) in addition to traditional UVB blockers such as octyl salicylate or octyl methoxycinnamate.

It takes as little as 15 minutes for the sun's ultraviolet rays to harm your skin, even though it may take up to 12 hours for your skin to show a sunburn.