Why you’re (probably) doing sunscreen wrong

Plus: Lullabies – science or magic? [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( June 11, 2023 by Andrea Muraskin This week: There’s more than one way to protect your skin from UV radiation, but many of us miss the mark. [We spoke with dermatologists who have you covered.]( Plus: [Diabetes can look different for Asian Americans]( a population at higher risk than whites. And, the data supports [a ‘secret weapon’ for parents: the lullaby](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Picking the 'right' sunscreen isn't as important as avoiding these 6 mistakes]( [Using sunscreen plays a key role in protecting skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.]( Namthip Muanthongthae/Getty Images I’m the type of person who won’t replace a cell phone until it’s unusable, and there’s lipstick in my makeup bag that dates back before the word “pandemic” was common parlance. So when summer rolls around, I’m always happy to fish out the half-empty tube of sunscreen from last year or even two years ago. But according to dermatologist Ida Orengo, I’m doing my skin a disservice. “I always tell people that you need to look at the expiration date and get rid of them. And even if they haven't expired, my mantra is every spring, I'll buy all new sunscreen for my household,” she told NPR. That’s because the active ingredients can degrade, and bacteria can get into the creams over time. Using old or expired sunscreen is just one common error when it comes to protecting ourselves from skin cancer, the most common cancer in the US and around the world. Other mistakes dermatologists warned us about include not applying enough, skipping sunscreen on cloudy days, and the misconception that those with darker skin tones can safely go without sun protection. [Learn how to sun safely before you hit the beach](. [Also: How to choose the right sunscreen for you]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- ['Hidden fat' puts Asians at risk of diabetes. Here’s how lifestyle changes can help]( [Attendees at a health fair at the Balaji Temple, in Aurora, Ill., learn about the SAHELI diabetes prevention program.]( Teresa Crawford/Northwestern University When epidemiologist Maria Rosario Araneta joined the faculty at UC San Diego in the 1990s she heard about a medical mystery. A number of Filipino men were showing up at a nearby VA hospital with kidney damage from diabetes. Unlike classic diabetes patients, they weren’t overweight or obese, and their jobs in the Navy required them to exercise. Asians in America are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, compared with the white population – even though their BMIs tend to be lower. That might be because Asian bodies tend to store fat in places invisible to the eye but potentially more dangerous, like in the liver and around the heart. Healthier diets, more exercise and lower stress levels have been shown to lower diabetes risk. NPR’s Pien Huang learned about a prevention course in the Chicago area designed with South Asian food culture and the stress of immigration in mind. [Find out more about how early screening and lifestyle changes can help prevent diabetes.]( [Plus: Study finds diabetes and obesity on the rise among young adults]( [The sweet science of lullabies]( [The reporter's kids, Sasha and Noa, both love falling asleep to lullabies. This is a sleeping self-portrait by Sasha, age 4. With great attention to detail, she has drawn the unicorns on her comforter.]( Sasha Ladly There is just something about lullabies, says Sam Mehr, a psychologist who studies music at the University of Auckland in New Zealand -- and a dad. His research team did a study where they played songs for infants in unfamiliar languages. Some of the songs were lullabies, and some were not. The babies found all of the foreign songs pretty relaxing, but when they played lullabies, they relaxed more. One study of babies in the NICU compared infants who heard Mozart’s lullabies to infants who heard their mothers’ lullabies. The babies who heard their mothers’ songs slept better, fed better, and spent fewer days in intensive care. Mehr thinks that when a baby is upset and a parent or caregiver sings a lullaby, the baby can tell the parent is focused on them and responding to their emotions. Some studies show that lullabies boost moms’ moods too. So what exactly defines a lullaby, and do you have to be a good singer? [Read more and listen to the soothing tones of NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin]( singing her daughter to sleep, plus a lullaby from Ethiopia. [And: Find your singing voice with these five tips]( Before you go: Photographs Unsplash; Collage by Kaz Fantone/NPR - To save money on groceries, try these tips [before going to the store]( - How to protect yourself from poor air quality [caused by smoke]( - Swimmers should get ready for another summer [short on lifeguards]( - Vaccination and awareness could help [keep mpox in check this summer]( - His baby gene editing shocked ethicists. Now he's [in the lab again]( We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots. All the best, Andrea Muraskin and your NPR Health editors --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [NPR Instagram]( [NPR Facebook]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? 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