Secrets of Dermatologists

Sunglasses, makeup, and more

Sunglasses that offer UVA/UVB protection are the best defense against such sun-related ophthalmic diseases such as cataracts. You are especially vulnerable if you have blue or green eyes, cautions Mary Lupo, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University, in New Orleans. The safest styles are wraparounds that hug the curves of your face, since rays can sneak around the sides of glasses.

"Foundation is formulated with titanium dioxide, a sunscreening ingredient. Smoothing it over sunscreen offers extra protection," says Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist and author of Beauty and the Beam (St. Martin's Press, 1998). Lipstick also contains titanium dioxide, as well as sun-blocking pigments, which is why dermatologists believe they see skin cancers on women's lips less often -- a good thing, since lip cancers can be particularly aggressive.

Start by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, suggests Lupo. "Baseball caps protect the nose well, but expose the sides of the face." Consider, too, sun-protective clothing, such as those made by SunPrecautions that provide SPF 30 and higher. You might already have clothes with high SPFs in your closet -- loosely fitting, tightly woven apparel made of synthetic, or at least blended, fabrics. Darker colors also filter out more sun than lighter shades do. And just out this spring is Rit Sun Guard ($4.09), a laundry treatment that washes in sun protection of about SPF 30.

It's a simple strategy that proves effective over time. Though trees and buildings don't offer much protection against UVA, they do limit exposure to UVB.