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Understand Sun Protection Factor

This article discusses sun protection factor (SPF) in sunscreen. SPF is a measurement of how well a sunscreen protects skin from UV rays that cause sunburn and damage. Higher SPF does not necessarily mean double the protection - SPF 45 blocks 98% of rays while SPF 30 blocks 97%. While higher SPF is not necessarily better, people should not stay in the sun longer without reapplying due to a false sense of security from high SPF. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2-3 hours regardless of SPF and other protections like hats should be used.

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117 views2 pages

Understand Sun Protection Factor

This article discusses sun protection factor (SPF) in sunscreen. SPF is a measurement of how well a sunscreen protects skin from UV rays that cause sunburn and damage. Higher SPF does not necessarily mean double the protection - SPF 45 blocks 98% of rays while SPF 30 blocks 97%. While higher SPF is not necessarily better, people should not stay in the sun longer without reapplying due to a false sense of security from high SPF. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2-3 hours regardless of SPF and other protections like hats should be used.

Uploaded by

Sucipto Cipto
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNDERSTAND SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) IN SUNSCREEN

(Written by: Ramadhina Anggita)

Nowadays, sunscreen is a basic daily lotion we all need. There are lots of sunscreen products in
the market which shows that people actually concern about ultraviolet ray bad effect.
Unfortunately, JAMA Dermatology new survey said that most people don’t understand much about
what’s written on a lotion label. People actually need to look on the sunscreen label and understand
the information about the ingredient, not to mention, the sun protection factor. Several questions
may arise, such as: What does sun protection factor (SPF) really mean? Is a higher SPF better?
This article may help you find the answer.

Skin Cancer at a Glance


What everyone should know about skin cancer is it is one of the most common cancer. Every year,
about one million death caused by a dangerous skin cancer called Melanoma Maligna. Is there a
correlation between ultraviolet ray and skin cancer? The answer is yes. Too much ultraviolet
radiation can damage the cell and cause cancer. Sunscreen is the best way to protect our skin cell
from UV ray. People need to use it regularly and according to label direction.

The Definition of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) in Sunscreen


Sun Protection Factor is a measurement of the effectiveness of a sunscreen formulation in order to
protect the skin cell from sunburn and skin damage. The SPF has to protect the skin from both UV
A and UV B rays. It means, your sunscreen needs to be “broad spectrum”. The protection from
UV B are helpful to avoid sunburn and decrease skin cell’s damage, while protection from UV A
can reduce the tanning process as well as skin aging and wrinkles. The SPF number tells you how
much time it would take to give you sunburn while using the product as opposed to the time it
would take without any sunscreen. Unlike a simple mathematics, SPF number 30 does not give
the double protection as SPF number 15 does. According to James M. Spencer, an SPF 45 product
blocks about 98% while SPF 30 and 15 blocks about 97% and 94% of rays.

How High Should We Go for SPF in Sunscreen?


There are a lot of misunderstanding about high number SPF. People tend to think that the highest
number of SPF gives the best protection. The truth is, the high SPF product may give you a false
sense security. Stephen Wang, a dermatologist, said that people who use a sunscreen with high
number SPF tend to stay out in the sun much longer without reapply it. They skin end up getting
a lot more damage. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two to three hours no matter how high
the SPF number is. People also need other protection such as hat and umbrella.
The SPF is an important part of sunscreen. Therefore, you need to look and understand the label
before you buy the product. Choose the suitable SPF based on your needs, apply it generously for
a better healthy skin.

References:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/best-sunscreen/art-
20045110
2. https://time.com/3924609/sunscreen-spf-uva-uvb/
3. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/high-spf-sunscreens-are-they-better
4. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbcf/v40n3/14.pdf

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