The Ins And Out Of Sunscreen SPF

Sun protection factor, or SPF, refers to the amount of protection a sunscreen will generally provide. This is the measurement of how much the product shields your skin from the sun. The higher the SPF, the better the protection against the harmful UVB rays of the sun.   

In terms of measurement, SPF ranges from two to now above seventy. To the normal person, it is logical to think that an SPF of 30 would be two times the strength of the SPF of 15 and an SPF of 45 would be three times the strength. This is not the case. According to a scientist at the Academy of Dermatology, SPF 15 blocks about ninety four percent of UVB rays, an SPF of 30 blocks about ninety seven percent, and an SPF of 45 blocks about ninety eight percent. An SPF of 50 only provides one to two percent more protection than an SPF of 30.

 

 

SPF only measures the protection from UVB rays, which are known to cause sunburn. Other UV rays, however, do cause damage; therefore a broad spectrum sunscreen is always best. The way your skin generally reacts to the sun should be the gauge of what SPF you choose. Those who rarely burn can use SPF 15 and be just fine. Someone with particularly sun sensitive skin would need an SPF 30 or above.

  

The sun protection factor is calculated by comparing the amount of time it takes a person to burn unprotected with the amount of time it takes a person to burn using sunscreen. This means that a person who burns unprotected within thirty minutes would be protected fifteen times longer if they were wearing SPF 15. Reapplication is important in this equation due to the sunscreen possibly rubbing off while swimming or sweating. Dermatologists recommend every two hours before reapplying.

 

Because manufacturers play somewhat of a numbers game with SPF, it is up to the consumer to remain educated. Do not get caught up in manufacturers sell schemes. Just because the SPF is substantially higher does not mean that it is substantially better in quality.