Probably not. Drinkable sunscreen, or water that has been treated with electromagnetic waves, supposedly allows the body to better deal with external UV waves, thereby preventing damage to the skin. Sunscreen pills are filled with vitamins and antioxidants, and similarly work from the inside out to help the body fight damaging UV waves.

Both products may sound like an easy alternative to regular SPF and suncare, but there is no research citing the usefulness of drinkable sunscreen, and very little supporting sunscreen pills. Though neither product seems to be directly harmful, nothing can compare to broad-spectrum SPF and a hat when protecting skin from the sun. Try Dr. Bussell’s SPF 30 Sunblock for full coverage.

– Dr. Bussell

Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants

433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 805   Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310-550-7661

This is something I was recently asked to discuss for Dermatology Times. People are now becoming more and more aware of vitamin D deficiency as a reason for various medical problems.

The question has arisen in my practice whether or not the use of sunblock is responsible for lower levels of vitamin D in conscientious sun avoiders. Until a scientific study is done, we cannot say for certain however it seems reasonable that one should not totally avoid the sun as vitamin D metabolism is influenced by it.

I recommend that my patients do use sunblock but use it appropriately. By that I mean to use it on sun-exposed areas when there is extended exposure to the sun as when playing sports or going to the beach.  Simply walking back and forth from one’s car to work inside a building may not require the use of sunblock.  A little bit of sun is obviously good for the skin, realizing however that burning is harmful. A easy rule of thumb is if you are going to be in direct sunlight for more than 15 minutes, you should apply sunblock unless you have very sensitive skin that burns sooner than that.

Additionally, one must be careful not to overuse sunblock due to the fact that sunblocks do contain chemicals and the skin does absorb chemicals that are applied to it. Therefore, we should minimize unnecessary exposure to chemicals. This is why I don’t recommend moisturizers that contain sunblock. Individuals have a tendency to put the sunblock-containing moisturizers on at night as well as in the daytime and there is no reason to protect oneself from sun that isn’t there.

My preference for a sunblock is one that is no stronger than an SPF 30. I also prefer sunblocks, like ours at Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants, that contain tried and true ingredients rather than sunblocks that strive to incorporate newer ingredients that have not been tested for very long in the general population.

– Dr. Bussell

Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants

433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 805   Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310-550-7661

If you forgot to apply your sunscreen and now you have a red face and/or body after being out in the sun, the first thing to do is cool the area with some ice packs as much as possible.

Next, as soon as possible, put on some non-prescription 1% hydrocortisone cream. Reapply a thin layer of the cream as needed for the burning sensation or continued redness. If the skin blisters, you can clean the blister gently with some rubbing alcohol; then, take a pin or needle, flame it to sterilize and gently poke the base of the blister in one area so that the fluid within can be gently removed.

If the sunburn becomes painful, or the skin is very warm to touch, then two aspirin or two non-prescription ibuprofen tablets every four to six hours for two days may alleviate these symptoms.

For any areas where the skin becomes broken or raw following blister formation, you can apply some non-prescription bacitracin or polysporin ointment on the surface of the involved area. Do not apply neosporin or neomycin ointment as the antibiotic neomycin causes frequent severe allergic reactions on the skin.

If in spite of following these instructions the skin becomes raw or develops honey-colored crusts, it could mean the beginning of an infection known as impetigo or cellulitis. If this should occur, then it is best to be evaluated in a dermatologist’s office.

When your sunburn dissolves, the skin may peel. This can be very itchy. If this occurs, use your favorite moisturizer throughout the day, especially on wet skin after showering.

– Dr. Bussell

Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants

433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 805   Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310-550-7661

Actinic keratoses are sun damage spots that can appear anyplace on the body but especially on the face, arms and legs.  They can look like red or brown scaly or elevated lesions on the skin. Seborrheic keratoses (“age spots”), seen in mature skin, tend to be thicker and slightly wart-like and vary in color from skin tone to dark brown. They also tend to appear on skin that has been exposed to the sun.

The best treatment for actinic and seborrheic keratoses is destruction of the lesions with either liquid nitrogen or acid therapy in a dermatologist’s office. If the lesions are not very elevated, our Sal-Hydro peeling and bleaching medicine can be very helpful when applied twice a day at home to peel and help fade the lesions over time. Shaving can be done as usual. Be sure to use a clean disposable razor each time you shave to avoid infection.

– Dr. Bussell

Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants

433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 805   Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310-550-7661

With the summer upon us, we are all tempted to go to the beach, enjoy the outdoors and the sun. There are a few things you should remember. When choosing your sunscreen, consider the sun protection factor or SPF. This number is useful in determining how long an individual can stay in the sun without burning. The SPF multiplied by the number of minutes it would take for that individual to burn without sunscreen gives the total amount of minutes he or she can stay in the sun with the sunscreen. For a person who burns after 10 minutes without sunscreen, an SPF of 30 would allow him or her to stay in the sun for 300 minutes. Since it is unlikely that someone will get more than five hours of sun in one day, I believe an SPF of 30 to be sufficient.

Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long ago determined that 15 was a complete block. My feeling is that in southern California, it is prudent to go a little bit higher. I recommend a 30 for people living in sunny climates. I do not recommend anything greater than 30 due to the fact that it must be remembered that sunscreens contain chemicals, and chemicals applied to the skin can be absorbed into the body. There is no need to go beyond 30.

Sunscreen has been used significantly for over 40 years, and my feeling is that staying with the original ingredients that have been proven effective and safe is much better than changing to a sunblock with a new chemical that has been on the market for only a short period of time. My concerns are that sometime in the future these newer chemicals might show some toxicity which we know that the older chemicals do not have. Therefore, I think an SPF 30 is more than adequate for adults and babies.

I use the terms sunblock and sunscreen interchangeably. Sunblock/sunscreen should be applied a half hour before going into the sun so the ingredients can be absorbed into the skin and should also be reapplied after swimming, heavy perspiration or showering in order to be effective.

Try my SPF 30 Sunblock.

– Dr. Bussell

Beverly Hills Dermatology Consultants

433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 805   Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310-550-7661