Media Relations: Mercy News Archive

Mercy News | Mercy Facts At A Glance | Medical Experts Profiles
Story Ideas / News Archive | Mercy on the Web | Contact Media Relations

Mercy Medical Center Dermatologist Dr. Oanh Lauring

Mercy Dermatologist Dr. Oanh Lauring Discusses How To Read Sunscreen/Skincare Product Labels On WBAL's "Woman's Doctor"

While sunscreen is important to wear year-round when you're outside, doctors are reminding sunseekers of the importance of wearing it in the summer.

Kathleen Pieper said she didn't often use sunscreen as a teenager, and she learned the lesson of its importance the hard way.

"Fair skin comes back to haunt you, and in April of last year, I had a suspicious mole on my arm which turned out to be a malignant melanoma," she said.

Mercy Medical Center dermatologist Dr. Oanh Lauring said people need to be careful when buying sunscreen because it needs to offer broad spectrum protection.

"When you're looking at SPF on sunscreen, that only refers to your UVB protection. It doesn't say anything about the UVA. So, when you're buying a product, you have to be very savvy and look for ingredients that will protect you against both UVA and UVB," she said.

Dr. Lauring said there are two categories of blockers: physical blockers, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that reflect light, and chemical blockers. Sunseekers should seek out a combination.

"The hottest ingredient that's available now in the market is mexoral, and this is a product that was only available in Europe until a year ago," she said.

Dr. Lauring said to wear an SPF of anywhere from 30 to 45.

Pieper's melanoma was surgically removed and doctors got all of it. She is currently religious about sunscreen.

"I should use it everyday, really, going in and out of buildings and to and from work, but definitely on weekends when I'm out in the sun a lot -- I use it all the time," she said.

According to Dr. Lauring, it's important to wear sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection because eyes can also get a lot of sun damage that can develop into melanoma in the eye. She said people are at higher risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

To learn more and to see Dr. Lauring's interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor," click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/19895183/detail.html.