1. The way your skin looks is determined mostly by age and genetics. True or false.

2. Most sun damage occurs before age 18. True or false.

3. “Base tans” help prevent sunburn and reduce skin damage. True or false.

4. Sunscreens help prevent skin aging. True or false.

5. Using only sunscreen is adequate to protect the skin from the sun. True or false.

6. How many procedures can you list that are performed to reduce the effects of sun damage?

7. It is better to obtain vitamin D from the sun rather than from supplements. True or false.

8. It is best to use the highest SPF score available for sunscreens. True or false.

9. Studies have shown that regular use of SPF of 15 or higher broad-spectrum sun screen reduces your chances of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent, melanoma by 50 percent, and premature skin aging by 24 percent. True or false.

10. A 2015 study, published in “Science” found that UVA damage to the skin can start in less than a minute in the sun. True or false.

11. Topical sunless tanning products that include dihydroxyacetone (DHA), an FDA-approved skin-coloring agent, is safe for those who “just must have a tan.” True or false.


1. False. Skin aging, including wrinkles, sagging, multiple brown spots, enlarged blood vessels, leathery texture and skin cancers are determined mostly by the amount of sun exposure or tanning bed exposure in one’s lifetime. UV rays from the sun break down deep skin support structures and cause DNA damage. Genetics does play some role, as does overall health, exercise, nutrition and topical products used. Smoking is especially detrimental to the appearance of the skin. “Natural aging” is not that natural!

2. False. This was long thought to be true. However, with our longer life spans, 80 percent of lifetime sun damage now is felt to occur after age 18. Sun protection is important at any age.

3. False. Tanning occurs because the skin has already been damaged. The body is trying to protect itself from further UV rays. The bottom line is that a tan is harmful, with or without sunscreens. We should not lie out in the sun to try to obtain a tan. Tanning beds are especially harmful because they use UVA light which penetrates the skin more deeply. There is no such thing as a “protective tan.”

4. True. In 2013, a well-designed study showed that people who use an SPF of 15 or higher broad-spectrum sunscreen everyday had almost no detectable skin aging over 4 1/2 years, while those who did not use a sunscreen did show skin aging. It is recommended that sunscreens be used year round. UVB rays are strongest in the summer months. UVA rays are intense year round, including during cold weather, in high altitude, through clouds, and through glass. UVA rays cause deeper damage.

5. False. Even a proper use of sunscreen still allows some sun rays to penetrate the skin. Along with sunscreen, use the shade. Use sun protective clothing, including broad-brimmed hats. Sit under umbrellas. Use UV-blocking sunglasses.

6. Dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser/fractional resurfacing, chemical peels, photodynamic therapy (PDT), dermal fillers, facelifts, and blepharoplasties are the most common procedures. Use of topical retinols, eating a proper diet including fruits and vegetables that have color and are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, applying anti-aging/antioxidant topical products including DNA-repairing enzymes, and topical chemotherapies (e.g., 5- fluorouracil and others) may help.

7. False. In the last five years, the fact that most of us in the northern United States are low in vitamin D has become a well-documented fact. Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is important for bone health because it helps the body absorb calcium. It improves immune function and there is research that it may reduce breast and colon cancer. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with depression, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Eczema and other skin problems including infections like warts can be difficult to control when vitamin D levels are low. However, sun exposure will only add to the cumulative sun damage to the skin, increase skin cancer risks, and accelerate aging. Tanning beds are totally inadequate for vitamin D production. They use UVA rays, while the skin needs UVB rays to synthesize vitamin D. There are very few ways to obtain vitamin D in the diet. These include fortified dairy and cereals. Certain fatty fish and liver do contain it. The healthiest way to obtain enough vitamin D is to use supplements.

8. Partially true. An SPF of 30 is adequate to protect you from 97 percent of the sun’s rays. That is generally considered sufficient. The scale is logarithmic, so an SPF 2 provides 50 percent reduction in UV rays. An SPF of 4 provides 75 percent. SPF 8: 87 percent, SPF 16: 4 percent, SPF 32: 97 percent, and SPF 60: 98.5 percent. In the past, the higher SPFs were significantly more expensive. Now their costs have come down. Higher SPFs do not cause any harm. Going above 30 provides only marginal prolonged benefit, but at least use an SPF of 30 that is broad-spectrum (blocks UVA and UVB) and that is water-resistant.

9. True.

10. True.

11. True. If the product doesn’t contain DHA, it may contain a tan-accelerator, which only speeds up UV-induced skin damage.
