THE NO-FRY ZONE PROTECT YOURSELF WITH A GOOD SUNSCREEN ... AND COMMON SENSE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer

When did catching a few rays become so blasted complicated?

There are the sunscreens, sunblocks and sunless tanning lotions, with labels promising a veritable alphabet soup of SPFs and UV protection. Then there are the shades, umbrellas and clothing offering an even stronger defense.

Ask your dermatologist for advice and he's likely to tell you that if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, you should take precautions. Then he'll remind you that prolonged exposure to the sun's rays is harmful. In the short term, you'll suffer a painful sunburn. Over time, you could develop skin cancer, certain forms of which, if unchecked, can be fatal.

Scared? Confused? Don't be. Experts say protecting your skin from the sun's damaging rays is simple. Choose a strong product with a reliable brand name and use your skin as your indicator.

``My rule of thumb is that if you're using a sunscreen now and you're still getting tan or red, it's not doing what you want it to do,'' said Dr. Andrew Kaufman of the Center for Dermatology Care in Thousand Oaks. ``You're either using a sunscreen that isn't giving you the SPF protection you need, or you're not putting on enough, or not frequently enough.''

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is trying to simplify matters by eliminating sunscreen labels with sun protection factor (SPF) levels higher than 30 since the higher options, they say, do not offer significantly better protection than the others. By the end of 2002, every product stronger than SPF 30 will carry the label 30+ and labels with phrases such as ``all-day protection'' and ``waterproof'' will disappear.

Whatever you use, skin specialists say, use a lot of it and use it often, and don't forget to coat the kids in the stuff as well.

A study conducted by Dr. June Robinson of Loyola University - published in this month's Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - concludes that parents who use sunscreen on their children tend to let them play in the sun for longer periods of time, thereby negating the benefits of sunscreen.

It's these same parents, the study says, who aren't using enough sunscreen on their own skin, thereby setting a poor example for the kids.

``These are parents who are trying to protect their children, more so than themselves,'' said Robinson, adding that parents also forget to cover all parts of their children's bodies such as the tops of the hands and feet. ``They're trying hard, but they haven't quite figured out how to carry the ball into the end zone.''

Once you get past the SPF number - which represents the amount of protection a product offers against harmful ultraviolet B rays - go for what feels comfortable. Some people like a gel, spray or roll-on; others prefer an oily lotion. Some like the standard squirt bottle, while others prefer a pump bottle for strategic placement. For kids, there are now several brands of sunscreen that slather or spray on in a bright color, such as blue or green, to help prevent parents from missing a spot. The color fades as the sunscreen is rubbed into the skin.

Regardless of what protective product you use, skin doctors say you should use it repeatedly. After you swim or sweat, slather it on anew.

L.A. County lifeguards issue their employees copious amounts of SPF 30 sunscreen, but most lifeguards use their own, says Capt. Steve Moseley of the lifeguard's community service division.

``I prefer the greasy Aloe Gator because I know it's on there,'' said Moseley. ``Some don't like it because it's greasy.''

Lifeguards have long been aware of the dangers of prolonged exposure to sun rays, which is why, he said, you're more likely to see a lifeguard with more covered than the average ray-soakers.

``The idea of the bronze sun god has kind of gone by the wayside,'' said Moseley, adding that a couple of lifeguards have died from the effects of skin cancer. ``We've become a lot more conscious and aware - more hats, more long-sleeved shirts.''

Clothing certainly helps. On the beach, skimpy may be stylish, but for health purposes, you're better off covering up with items like hats, shirts and sunglasses. Clothes should have a tight weave. Hold your T-shirt up to the sun. If light passes through, it's not giving good protection. The Washington-based clothing manufacturer Sun Precautions produces a line of clothing, called Solumbra, that has a 30+ SPF factor built into the fabric. Company president Shaun Hughes, who founded Solumbra after being diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 26, claims his clothing line offers better protection than a 30+ SPF sunscreen.

Sunless tanners, a k a ``tan-in-a-can,'' will work as long as you take the ``sunless'' part of the label literally. They'll give you a layer of color through a chemical called dihydroxyacetone, but they won't protect you from the sun.

``Some of them do have SPF levels built into them, but we say that's a convenience for the aesthetics,'' said George A. Ziets, vice president of research and development for Bath & Body Works. ``And the quality of the formulations is getting better on those. You go back 20 years, they were very orange and streaky-looking. Today's are a lot more aesthetically elegant.''

If you can't stay out of the sun, be aware that the sun's rays are strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And give yourself extended shade breaks if you're going to be out in the sun for a long period of time. During the shade time, your skin can recover, says Dr. David Chu, section chief of the division of melanoma and surgery at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte.

``It's not a complete repair, but I think it does make a difference,'' Chu said. ``It's a pitfall that parents get into, thinking that sunscreen offers total protection from the sun. It's not true.''

Melanoma: the danger signs

Like other forms of the disease, skin cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells. Of the three forms of skin cancer - basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer and melanoma - melanoma, the least common but most deadly, is also the form of cancer most likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Approximately 9,200 people are expected to die of skin cancer this year - 7,300 from melanoma alone, according to statistics compiled by the Center for Dermatology Care in Thousand Oaks. Others will be killed by the spread of the cancer to vital organs.

The average age of a melanoma victim is 45, and Americans have a one in 80 chance of developing the disease. People with fair skin and light eyes are at greatest risk for melanoma.

The disease is treatable if caught early. The American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society advise people to look for unusual moles or skin lesions. Follow the ABCD rule:

Asymmetry: Where one half of the pigmented lesion does not match the other half.

Border: The edges of a lesion are ragged, notched or blurred.

Color: The color is not uniform over the legion, containing different shades of tan, brown, black, sometimes with patches of red, white or blue.

Diameter: Any lesion that is wider than 1/4 of an inch, about the size of a pencil eraser.

If you have a growth with any of these traits, see a doctor.

- Evan Henerson

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) SUMMER BUMMER 

Sunburn isn't just painful, it's downright dangerous - but scorched skin doesn't have to be your destiny

(2 -- 3) City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks senior lifeguard Julio Romero, above, keeps a watch at the Hubert Humphrey Recreation Center pool in Pacoima. Below, he applies a liberal coating of sunscreen.

(4) As opposed to the days when only one type - basic Coppertone - was available, today's sun protection products come in a vast array of formulations.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

Box: (1) MELANOMA: The danger signs (See text)

(2) Sunscreen SPF numbers: not the final word on sun safety

Knight Ridder-Tribune