What does the SPF rating of sunscreen mean? Waterproof, sweatproof, UVA, UVB, SPF 15, 50, or 100... what does it all mean? SPF stands for sun protection factor, but it specifically indicates protection against the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays that cause sunburn, If your skin normally begins to burn after 10 minutes in full sun without any protection. A 30 SPF sunscreen would provide 30 times the protection of no sunscreen. That means 30 times longer before you start to burn, or in this case, 300 minutes. Thats five hours, so one application should do it for the day, right? No, it is best to reapply every one to two hours when outdoors, especially if swimming or sweating a lot. An SPF of 100 does not mean twice the protection of SPF 50! Even an SPF 15 sunscreen blocks over 90 percent of UVB rays, so you dont need an SPF of 80 or 100 for adequate protection. Proper and repeated application is more important. More sunscreen just replaces what has worn off, rather than adding on more hours of protection. The SPF numbers are not exact, and results vary by individual, since some skin types burn faster than others. Having said that, it is recommended to stay under 50. If it says SPF 70, its marketing hype. SPF measures the percentage of UVB rays blocked: SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. Anything higher adds little extra protection, which is why the FDA is considering banning labels over SPF 50 from store shelves. Dermatologists recommend an SPF between 30 and 50 for optimal protection. Read more: mensjournal/health-fitness/health/new-rules-of-sunscreen-stay-below-spf-50-20120806#ixzz36FicPhSF Follow us: @mensjournal on Twitter | MensJournal on Facebook Another factor to consider is protection from UVA rays. These might not cause a visible sunburn, but they can still damage tissue and cause wrinkles, and they penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays. A broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen containing zinc and titanium dioxide that protects against both UVA and UVB rays with a minimum SPF of 30 is recommended. Apply sunscreen liberally and thoroughly, at least 30 minutes before going out so that it has time to absorb into the skin, and dont miss sensitive spots like the ears and feet. A-Peeling Faces Skincare & Massage Therapy carries 6 different kinds of sunscreen from weightless to powder to moisturizing! Dont ruin your holiday by getting burned!
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:00:29 +0000
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