I know I need to use sunscreen, but what kind of thing is it? And what level of SPF do you need? There’s a lot of information to digest in a sunscreen bottle. And if you’re confused, the dermatologist will get it.
“Even though the manufacturers and (Food and Drug Administration) have tried to make things very simple, I think it’s pretty complicated for people to understand,” Dr. Shari Lipner, associate professor of clinical dermatology at the New York Presbierian Hospital/Weil Cornell Medical Center, tells Today.com.
A general recommendation is to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Dr. Nada Elbuluk, professor of clinical dermatology at the USCKeck School of Medicine and founding director of skin color and pigment disorders, talks to Today.com.
But your actions, including how well you apply and reapply for the product, are also important, she points out.
So, you might think that more numbers automatically mean better protection, but your mileage may vary, experts say. Also, if you are comparing SPF of 30 and 50 SPF, if it is two of the most common and cost-effective SPF values, then this decision may be more than you think.
What does SPF mean?
The term “SPF” refers to the solar protective factor of a product. This means protection that you provide from skin distorted UV types, a skin style dermatologist and dermatology dermatologist at the University of Miami University of Miami.
Put another way, SPF means how much of the sun’s energy is needed to create a tan on protected skin compared to unprotected skin,” says Lipner. A higher SPF indicates that many of these burning rays are blocked.
Because the majority of combustion is caused by UVB rays, experts generally say that SPF numbers indicate sunscreen protection primarily against UVB rays.
UVA rays contribute to smaller amounts of redness, sunburn and burn, but are primarily known for other effects on the skin. In particular, these rays “penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to signs of aging and skin cancer,” says Elbuluk.
Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to the risk of skin cancer.
To ensure that sunscreen also provides proper protection from UVA rays, look for the term “wide range” in your product.
In other countries, various methods are used to communicate the amount of UVA protection you can get from a particular sunscreen. For example, Korean products display PA+ ratings.
Dr. Arif Kamal, an oncologist with the American Cancer Society, says UVA/UVB rays are blocked by sunscreens with at least 30 SPF.
How much protection does SPF 30 vs 50 give?
All experts agree that at least SPF 30 must be used for daily activities. This is also a recommendation from the American Academy of Dermatology.
But why does it stop on SPF 30? If higher SPF protects against a lot of sun damage UV rays, shouldn’t we all always use higher SPF sunscreen?
It depends, experts say.
“We recommend a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, as SPF 30 means protecting your skin from 97% of the sun’s rays,” explains Lipner.
However, double SPF does not mean double protection, Elbuluk points out. Up with SPF gives you more protection, but reduces your return.
Get 98% protection from SPF 50 compared to 97% protection against UVB in SPF 30. The SPF70 gives you 98.6% protection, while the SPF 100 gives you 99% protection, according to Lipner.
“If it rises, it’s less,” Lipner points out.
Keep in mind that these numbers are protections that can be obtained under ideal conditions. That is, don’t forget to apply the right amount of sunscreen and reapply consistently.
Unfortunately, research suggests that we are not very good at it.
In particular, Hu points to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. For the study, the researchers had participants apply SPF 50 sunscreen on one side of their face and SPF 100 on the other side. Participants then spent several hours skiing and snowboarding and assessed their skin the next day.
Of the 199 subjects, only 27 people got sunburned on the SPF 50 side of their face and only 27 people got sunburned on the SPF 100 side.
Another study compared SPF 50 and SPF 100 in a real-life beach vacation scenario, with 55 participants over 5 days of UV exposure. These authors found similar results and noted that the initial sunburn occurred after exposure to the day of sunlight. Three days of UV exposure was required for the first sunburn to occur on the SPF 100 side.
“This shows that yes, in the lab, SPF 50 vs 100 is a small percentage of additional protection,” explains Hu. “But that 1% (difference) is enlarged in real life.”
It states that differences in SPF protection can be significantly more important in these situations than ideal laboratory conditions due to the effects of the surrounding climate in real life, the possibility of product deterioration over time, and the possibility of application user errors.
Meanwhile, Lipner says, “Up over the sunscreen and the SPF 100 really gives you a false sense of security.” For example, if you think your SPF 70 or 100 offers more protection than your SPF 30 or 50, you may not be likely to reapply after a quick swim.
Mineral-based sunscreens mechanically block UVA/UVB rays, whereas chemical sunscreens absorb light rays and turn them into heat.
Should I use SPF 30 or SPF 50 sunscreen?
When choosing SPF 30 and SPF 50 (or higher), there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
First, experts agree that certain people who are more likely to burn or develop skin cancer may want to make mistakes on the part of more protections each day. This includes people with Fitzpatrick’s skin types I and II (pale or skin skin, or red or red hair hair) and those with family or individual history of skin cancer who tend to burn.
Elbuluk also says that higher SPF is useful for those who manage pigmented skin conditions (such as vitiligo and pigmentation) and for those who spend extra time in the sun or spend areas with high UV indexes. People taking medications that suppress the immune system or make them more sensitive to sun exposure should consider using higher SPF sunscreen, she adds.
Price is also a consideration. Sunscreens with higher SPF are generally more expensive, Lipner adds “about things like 0.5% additional protection,” Hu adds.
However, if you’re just deciding between an SPF 30 and an SPF 50, the price difference may not be that important. If prices are similar, “Why not go to SPF 50?” Lipner says.
Knowing that people aren’t always good at applying sunscreen properly, Hu explains to patients, “If you’re always in a hurry, just grab a higher SPF,” she explains. “But honestly, in daily applications, SPF 30 is a good thing.”
Generally, experts agree that once the minimum protection threshold (SPF 30) is met, they should focus on properly applying sunscreen, reapplying it consistently, and drawing on other sun safety behaviors to maximize protection from UV rays.
Focus on actions, not just numbers
The sunscreen you use must meet these specific requirements.
Wide spectrum protection below SPF 30 will not expire
Once these requirements are met, “focus more on how you apply it and how often you apply it rather than numbers,” advises Lipner.
Most adults need sunscreen worthy of a shot glass to cover their bodies, AAD says. And when you’re outside, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours, or reapply after getting wet or sweaty. AAD also recommends choosing a water-resistant sunscreen.
But “Sunscreen is not enough,” says Hu’s people, especially for those who are susceptible to sun damage and those who are at a higher risk of skin cancer. That is, seek shade when possible, wear UPF clothing (or clothes with UV protection factors that cannot stay in light, Lipner’s notebook), and wide-ranging attractive hats and sunglasses to protect your skin.
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