{"id":626,"date":"2021-06-22T12:08:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T19:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/?p=626"},"modified":"2021-07-01T16:01:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T23:01:52","slug":"whats-a-dermatopathologist-and-why-should-you-take-sunscreen-advice-from-one-read-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/whats-a-dermatopathologist-and-why-should-you-take-sunscreen-advice-from-one-read-on\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s a dermatopathologist, and why should you take sunscreen advice from one? Read on\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With summer finally here and an array of new sunscreen formulas<\/a> to stock up on, we find ourselves wondering: what do the experts really <\/em>think about mineral vs. chemical SPF? And who better to ask about sun protection than a dermatopathologist\u2014a doctor who studies, analyzes and diagnoses the potential causes of diseases\u00a0and skin conditions like melanoma, vitiligo and psoriasis. (They’re who dermatologists turn to to further evaluate skin conditions at a microscopic level.) Here, triple board-certified dermatopathologist, dermatologist and internist Mamina Turegano, MD (@dr.mamina) shares her expert opinion on the great sunscreen debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decoding their differences.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPhysical ingredients<\/a> work by deflecting UV rays as well as absorbing some of them,\u201d Dr. Turegano explains. These formulas contain natural minerals (look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on the label\u2019s active ingredients) that act like a shield to block aging UV-A and cancer-causing UV-B rays. Chemical sunscreens are more akin to a sponge and work by absorbing the sun’s rays and converting them into heat. To spot these types, look for active ingredients like avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate or octocrylene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pros and cons of physical sunscreens.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI typically recommend physical sunscreen ingredients to those who have more sensitive skin as well as those who are working on hyperpigmentation,\u201d Dr. Turegano says. Because of their heat conversion process, chemical formulas are slightly more likely than physical types to be the culprit behind irritation\u2014aka breakouts. The downside? Some can be a bit clunky. Mineral-based sunscreens have a reputation for leaving a heavy, film-like feeling, pilling or sweating right off\u2014meaning you\u2019ll need to reapply more often.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, mineral sunscreens<\/a> have come a long way from the chalky formulas we grew up with. \u201cPeople think that physical sunscreens can make you look pale or ghost\u2013like, but now there are brands making sheer versions of zinc as well as tinted ones,\u201d Dr. Turegano adds. It just might take a bit of trial and error to find one that works best for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pros and cons of chemical sunscreens.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no doubt about it, chemical sunscreens are far more cosmetically elegant than their physical counterparts. \u201cBecause they are thinner and absorb better, they work well on all skin tones,\u201d Dr. Turegano tells us. This also makes them ideal for more active lifestyles, with a better performance in sweat-proof formulas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, because chemical SPF formulas have played host to some shadier ingredients in the past\u2014PABA (or para-aminobenzoic acid) and oxybenzone\u2014they\u2019ve developed an unfair reputation. \u201cChemical sunscreens have a general misconception of being endocrine disruptors,\u201d Dr. Turegano explains, pointing out that PABA has been eliminated from modern formulas, while oxybenzone is being phased out. In other words, don\u2019t fall for fearmongering\u2014the majority of chemical sunscreens on the market today will already be devoid of these troublemakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final word? Consistency is key.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI tell patients to use whatever sunscreen they\u2019re willing to use on a regular basis. The most important component of using an SPF<\/a> is consistency to prevent skin cancer and delay signs of aging. As long as you see the words ‘SPF 30+ and ‘broad spectrum,’ you\u2019re generally golden\u2014everything after that is a personal preference,\u201d Dr. Turegano says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With summer finally here and an array of new sunscreen formulas to stock up on, we find ourselves wondering: what do the experts really think about mineral vs. chemical SPF? And who better to ask about sun protection than a dermatopathologist\u2014a doctor who studies, analyzes and diagnoses the potential causes of diseases\u00a0and skin conditions like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":1144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skin"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1625180513:17"],"_edit_last":["17"],"primary_category":["5"],"_primary_category":["field_608c33bdd26d5"],"show_featured_image":["1"],"_show_featured_image":["field_609ee1cf1ce13"],"post_views_count":["2795"],"_thumbnail_id":["1144"],"adobe_analytics_repeatable":["a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:4:\"name\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"value\";s:0:\"\";}}"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["5"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["60"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["3"],"_wp_old_date":["2021-06-21"]},"aioseo_notices":[],"acf":{"primary_category":{"term_id":5,"name":"Skin","slug":"skin","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":238,"filter":"raw"},"show_featured_image":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=626"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1149,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626\/revisions\/1149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}