#1 Sunscreen Guide | Summer Vacation Tips

Sunscreen Guide | What is SPF?

SPF, the three letters I have seen at every corner at all points of life, but never knew the meaning to… I would simply see SPF, picked a random number following it, and called it a day. What an awful approach, especially after how much we’ve learned so far in this article! So, what is SPF? What does SPF stand for? What does SPF mean? Put on your evil scientist lab coats and let’s find out!

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how well a sunscreen shields your skin from the sun’s harmful UVB rays – the ones responsible for causing sunburn and playing a significant role in the development of skin cancer. It’s essentially a way to quantify the level of protection you’ll get from sunscreen when it’s applied correctly.

To put it simply, the SPF number on your sunscreen bottle represents the multiplication factor of the time it would take for your skin to burn without any protection. For instance, if your skin would typically start to burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure without any sunscreen, applying an SPF 30 sunscreen would theoretically extend that time to 300 minutes (10 minutes x 30).

But, it’s crucial to remember that these numbers are not set in stone! Factors like your skin type, the intensity of the sun, and the amount of sunscreen applied can all influence how effective the SPF protection will be. That’s why it’s always essential to play it safe and follow best practices when it comes to applying and reapplying sunscreen.

Now, you might be wondering: should I go for the highest SPF available to get the best protection? Well, it’s a common misconception that higher SPF numbers provide exponentially better protection. In reality, the difference in protection between an SPF 30 and an SPF 50 sunscreen is relatively small – SPF 30 filters out approximately 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 filters out about 98%. So, while a higher SPF does offer slightly better protection, it’s not a massive leap.

What truly matters is finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen – one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays – and applying it generously and consistently. No sunscreen, no matter the SPF, can completely block out 100% of the sun’s rays, so it’s vital to combine sunscreen use with other sun-safety measures, like seeking shade and wearing protective clothing.