Thursday, October 1, 2026
With Memorial Day weekend ushering in the start of the summer season, sun protection should be on the minds of those who spend a majority of their time outside.
Lawrence resident and Roslyn-based dermatologist Dr. Joshua L. Fox said it is important to practice safe habits, as there are many common misconceptions about sun exposure.
For many it’s a popular practice to visit a local tanning salon to get a base tan to avoid a sunburn. Fox said that can be more harmful than helpful. “Trying to save your skin through preemptive tanning is an exercise in insanity,” he said. “A tan gives the equivalent of an SPF 4 — not a lot of protection, and certainly not worth the damage and risk. The base tan itself causes skin damage.”
Fox said when it comes to sunscreen, people are not knowledgeable about the various SPF’s and how often to reapply. “The sun protection factor, or SPF, refers to UVB (ultraviolet B tanning) rays. To get UVA (ultraviolet A penetrates glass and clouds) protection, you need a sunscreen labeled ‘broad spectrum’ or one that contains a physical block like titanium dioxide,” Dr. Fox said. “Secondly, UVB protection doesn’t increase proportionately with the SPF number. For example, SPF 30 screens about 97 percent of UVB rays, whereas SPF 15 screens 93 percent. The difference in protection between SPF 30 and anything higher is relatively negligible.”
Seldom reapplying sunscreen can also lead to sun damage. “The rule is to apply about an ounce — an amount equal to that which would fill a standard shot glass — over your body and to reapply it every two hours, more often if you’re swimming, sweating or playing sports,” Dr. Fox said. “Don’t let an astronomical SPF number give you a false sense of security. In fact, in 2009 the Federal Drug Administration came out with a new regulation prohibiting manufacturers from claiming SPF’s of greater than 50-plus.”
Cheryl May, a Hewlett resident and mother of three children, always carries a stick of sunscreen that can easily be applied to her children’s faces. “Lotion up before getting to the beach or the pool because no one wants to stop and apply once they get there,” she said. “When I was a child we didn’t really have sunscreen at all. Today, you can’t avoid hearing about it on the news or reading it in the newspapers. The kids today are aware of the need to put on sunscreen before they can even talk.”
East Atlantic Beach resident and mother of three, Erika Prafder, said though she does her best to prevent sunburns, if she or her children get one, she will use aloe vera gel to treat it. “I use a spray sun block with a high SPF on three of my kids and I use the same sun block too,” she said. “My mother was neurotic about using sun block to avoid a burn, so she instilled this practice in me.”
Patty Vacchio, an Inwood resident advises use of sun block and measured amounts of time outside during the summer. “My best sun tip is to use appropriate sun protection and if you enjoy the sun, enjoy it in doses,” she said.
Another common misconception, according to Dr. Fox is the sun’s role in producing Vitamin D that helps the body build bone. “Vitamin D is essential but sun exposure is not essential for Vitamin D production,” he said. “Instead, you should eat a healthy diet with plenty of natural and fortified foods, and take a supplement of up to 1,000 units of Vitamin D to make up for any dietary shortfalls.”
A suntan is often associated with wealth and success in our society, Dr. Fox said, but there is more harm than good. “A tan is nothing more than a record of sun damage,” he said. “Instead of bucking the trend, use a self-tanner. You’ll get that tanned look, but without the damage.”
