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CNN Live Today

Review Potentials of the Summer

Aired May 27, 2002 - 14:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: With today marking the unofficial start of summer, this is a good time to review the dangers of the season. Medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland is in Decatur, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. And she has what you need to know about protecting your skin.

Hi, Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. And something you really need to know is that skin cancer is about the only cancer that is still increasing. And dermatologists say we're seeing greater numbers among teenagers and people in their 20s. And part of the reason is because we're not using sunscreens properly.

We're joined now by dermatologist Dr. Betty Potter, to tell us what we need to do. First of all, let's just start with the sunscreen. What is the lowest SPF?

DR. BETTY POTTER, DERMATOLOGIST: The lowest you want to use is SPF 15. But go for the higher SPFs, because the recommendation is four ounces every time you use sunblock. If you put it on a 45, the way we usually do it, thinly, you'll get a 15 out of it. So, go for the higher SPF.

ROWLAND: We also hear about UVA and UVB. UVA ages us. UVB burns us. So what sunscreen should we use to protect against both?

POTTER: Definitely go for one that contains zinc or Parsol 1789.

ROWLAND: One thing I thought interesting on this children's, it says SPF 30, but it doesn't say to protect against UVA.

POTTER: Exactly. It doesn't have zinc or Parsol in it. It has older ingredients. We don't want to use that one.

ROWLAND: And we're wearing sunglasses. Obviously, it's sunny out here, but there's another good reason to be wearing sunglasses.

POTTER: Exactly. We know that ultraviolet light causes cataracts and you can get skin cancers on the eyelids.

ROWLAND: You see people with skin cancer on their eyelids?

POTTER: I do see skin cancers on the eyelids. And if it's not caught soon enough, it can be very disfiguring.

ROWLAND: Hats, need to wear hats.

POTTER: Hats are very important. Ideally, it's a broad-brimmed hat. Check it, though, especially if it's straw. Hold it up to the sun and see if it -- if you see sunlight through it, don't use it. Get one that you can't see sunlight through.

ROWLAND: Also important to protect our lips.

POTTER: Lips, very important. Because skin cancers that occur on the lips are more aggressive than skin cancers on the skin.

POTTER: Now, here's a product I've never seen before.

ROWLAND: This is a fun new product. What you do -- this is great for kids, or if you're not certain how long you can stay out in the sun. You apply one of these to your skin. Then put sunscreen on it, and then go have fun in the sun. When they turn orange, you need to get out of the sun.

ROWLAND: OK, and our camera guys, we finally got them to reapply their sunscreen. But all of the people out here at the pool, they're in the water, out in the sun, how often do they reapply?

POTTER: People just sitting around should apply it every two hours. People in and out of the water, every time they get out of the water they should reapply.

ROWLAND: Excellent. OK, Dr. Betty Potter, dermatologist here in Atlanta, thank you.

Carol, you know what you need to do now to protect yourself against the sun and against all those wrinkles.

LIN: Yes, wear my sunscreen.

What wrinkles? Wait a second! Hey, Rhonda, quick question for you.

ROWLAND: You don't have any.

LIN: I don't know. We have awful good lighting in the studio. But a quick question for you. You know, I'm a sunscreen maniac. I mean, I love sunscreen, and I don't want to tan or get any color at all. And I actually found some sunscreen overseas that's a 90 -- 90 -- SPF.

ROWLAND: A 90?

LIN: Yes.

ROWLAND: They don't see that here.

LIN: They don't sell it in the States. Does the higher SPF really work? And if it's that high, is it potentially toxic? ROWLAND: Well, it's actually rather controversial. Once you get over 30, it's not clear how much benefit you get. But for people like me, who are blonde, who are fair, you should definitely go over 30, even to a 45. Especially for children as well.

But once you get that limit, over 30 up to 45, you're getting about the maximum that you can really get.

LIN: All right. And you're still tanning, it's just a question of not burning, and that's what causes the skin damage and exposure to skin cancer?

ROWLAND: Well, the burning will cause the melanoma. But also the UVA, those rays will not burn us, but they still damage the skin. And they can cause the less deadly forms of skin cancer. And those are the rays that actually age us, that give us wrinkles. So you want to protect against both. And you want to wear it year round, because you can get those UVA rays in through your car window.

LIN: Right.

ROWLAND: So it's good to protect yourself all year round. But especially now.

LIN: All right, good advice. Thanks so much, Rhonda Rowland, reporting poolside, Decatur, Georgia.

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