Fit in the Sun: What Experts Use and Recommend

The sheer number of sunscreen formulations available to patients can be both a blessing and a curse. For its most recent sunscreen rating, Consumer Reports looked at 48 formulations, but that doesn’t account for the full range of products in store aisles. Patient/consumers need to choose products that work and that fit their lifestyle and activities—especially when they are going to be exercising or playing sports outdoors. And when it comes to outdoor fitness, sunscreen is just the starting point. UPF clothing and other skincare are essential.

Practical Dermatology® magazine reached out to active dermatologists across the country to find out what products they use and what recommendations they make to their patients.

H. L. Greenberg, MD

Founder, Las Vegas Dermatology

Activities: I love to run; usually before the sun comes up or at sunset.

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors: I like the physical blockers—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. We sell EltaMD in the Las Vegas Dermatology office and have a private-label LVDerm Topix sunscreen. Why? Because the physical blockers don’t get in my eyes and do a great job.

Additional recommendations: We sell Bioderma Atoderm cream in the office and Cetaphil cream to support healthy skin.

Other tips: I recommend avoiding mid-day sun and using a hat to keep the sun off your head and face.

Elizabeth Hale, MD

Complete Skin MD, New York City

Activities: I work out every morning before the office, and as much as possible I take my workouts outside. I enjoy rooftop outdoor spinning at Comeback Cycle and long runs in Central Park.

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors: I never exercise outdoors without sunscreen and sun protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. On my face I like a Zinc oxide-based sunscreen, and I like Vacation Classic Lotion for my body. I spin and run in Under Armour long sleeve UPF 50 shirts and hats. Recently a friend introduced me to BloqUV shirts, which keep me cool on longer training runs.

Additional recommendations: I’ve started taking Isdin’s SunIsdin vitamins for an extra layer of protection and use Neova DNA repair to moisturize after sun exposure to repair some of the damage.

Other tips: I never do a long run without Body Glide anti-chafe stick and SPF lip balm.

Julie K. Karen, MD

Complete Skin MD, New York City

Activities: Running, beach bootcamp, watching my kids’ sports

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors: Broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. I like EltaMD UV Sport for face and body and La Roche-Posay Melt-in Milk SPF. Apply generously.

Drs. Karen and Hale ran the New York City Marathon.

I also wear long sleeve UPF clothing and a Nike Dri-Fit Swoosh Perforated hat. It has a bigger brim than most baseball caps and keeps me cool. I also wear UV Protective glasses.

Additional recommendations: For sports spectating, I recommend Parasun, a compact parasol that blocks 98-99 percent of UV rays.

Other tips: Isdin’s SunIsdin daily supplement is rich in antioxidants and carotenoids to neutralize free radical damage and also contains polypodium leucotomos, which helps to confer a baseline sun protection factor, automatically enhancing baseline protection. Don’t forget to reapply!!

Lily Talakoub, MD

Founder, Derm to Door and Owner, Mclean Dermatology and Skincare Center, McLean, VA

Activities: Tennis, skiing, beach activities like paddleboarding

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors:SkinKure Tinted Mineral SPF 50. It is pure mineral sunscreen with a SPF 50, which protects against UVA and UVB rays and for my darker complexion it does not go on white and blends right into my skin. When I sweat it also doesn’t burn my eyes.

Additional recommendations: I use a SkinKure vitamin C as well to help prevent dark spots in the summer.

Other tips: I recommend a vitamin C and a gentle retinol at night. These fight free radicals and help prevent against pigmentation.

Sunscreen, Kids, and Sports: An Opportunity

Spring, summer, and fall sports help children and adolescents get fit, hone their athletic skills, and learn lessons about setting and meeting goals. They also often have kids spending hours outdoors where they are exposed to UV, and it’s essential that children learn to protect their skin.

For kids, UV protective clothing is a must, says Amy Brodsky, MD, who notes that UPF-rated items offer UV shielding without the risk of wearing off. Sunscreen is also important, and child athletes should cover all sun-exposed skin anytime they will be outdoors.

One effective way to reach kids with a UV-safety message is through their sports teams. Dermatologists can reach out to local leagues and community centers with an offer to speak to their athletes about being sun safe. The Sun Hero campaign, launching this fall, will provide resources to help dermatologists reach young people in a meaningful way (See the News section for more).

“Habits start early, and when it comes to UV safety, we want kids to develop good habits,” Dr. Brodsky says. “If we approach them with information on their level and make the message fun, then we can make a difference.”

Plus, when education is targeted to a group, peers can make UV safety a shared goal and provide support to one another.

When it comes to choosing a sunscreen for kids, youngsters and their parents don’t have to reach for the most expensive products—after all, if they use sunscreen properly, they’ll use quite a bit. Dr. Brodsky suggests that families, “Find a formulation the kids will actually use, whether it’s a lotion, cream, or stick. Sprays can be an option, too, but there are concerns about ensuring that enough product is applied to the skin.”

Deirdre Hooper, MD

Audubon Dermatology, New Orleans

Activities: I grew up riding horses and now my daughter rides as well. We try to ride together once a week. I love nature and running, so when the weather and scenery are right, I love to run outside—especially when traveling!

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors: When I am exercising outdoors, my favorite sunscreen is Elta Sport 50. I usually layer Supergoop! CC Cream on my face to help avoid melasma. I always take the Isdin SunIsdin vitamins, which contain polypodium leucotomos to boost my sun protection. I really think the most important interventions are hats and sun protective clothing, so you will rarely see much skin uncovered on me! I live in New Orleans, so it is imperative to find cooler options. EIS is an equestrian centered company that makes a great cool shirt and Coolibar has the best hats.

Additional recommendations: Always: topical antioxidants. Vitamin C+ Correcting from Revision in the morning and Skinceuticals Resveratrol at night. If you don’t like the heavier mineral sunscreen, I love Supergoop’s giant pump to quickly cover arms and legs.

Joel L. Cohen, MD

AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery, Greenwood Village and Lone Tree, CO

Activities: I love to ski and mountain bike. Both have helmets, but you still need to optimize sun protection—especially with high altitude sun exposure (where there is more UV penetration than lower altitudes). When I motorcycle on dirt bike trails with a helmet that has a full-face shield, somehow dirt and debris always cover my face when I finish.

Favorite sunscreens and sun protective interventions when active outdoors: Personally, I like Sente Invisible Shield and Elta Clear as my go-to sunscreens. When I am skiing or mountain biking, I prefer the Elta with the pump—as the bottle holds up to nasty falls better than tubes (which have opened-up on me from the pressure of the fall).

Additional recommendations: I like the PCA hydrating mask to help me recover from the dryness of a day skiing or mountain biking, followed by Sente Dermal Repair Ultra Nourish at bedtime.

Other tips: I wear a balaclava under my ski helmet—which covers my face—and I make sure to use lip balm sunscreen.