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SPF and You.

Jun 13, 2016

Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere and the Sun is out and brighter every day.  We are told that we must protect our skin from the UV rays that can cause serious skin conditions.  If you're baffled by all those numbers on the product labels, this thorough article from verywell.com talks about SPF and you!

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Simply put, SPF tells you how effectively a sunscreen will protect you from UV rays. The SPF rating tells you how long you can stay in the sun without getting burned while wearing that sunscreen, compared to how long you can stay in the sun before you burn without wearing that sunscreen. For example, if it typically takes you 15 minutes to burn without sunscreen and you apply an SPF 10, it will take you 10 times longer to burn, or 2.5 hours.

How SPF Is Determined

The SPF number is determined experimentally indoors by exposing human subjects to a light spectrum meant to mimic noontime sun when the sun's rays are at their most intense. Some subjects wear sunscreen and others do not. The amount of light that induces redness in sunscreen-protected skin, divided by the amount of light that induces redness in unprotected skin is the SPF. It is a measure of UVB protection that ranges from 1 to 45 and above.

In other words, a sunscreen with an SPF of x allows you to stay out in the sun x times longer without burning.

Measuring SPF Strength

A higher SPF doesn't indicate superior sun protection. An SPF 2 protects your skin just as effectively as an SPF 30. However, an SPF 2 will need to be applied more frequently because it's only doubling the amount of time you can stay in the sun before burning. However, both SPF 2 and SPF 30 need to be thoroughly applied and reapplied when the protection timeframe runs out and after swimming or sweating.

Broad Spectrum Sun Protection

The SPF only measures the UVB component. Initially UVB rays were thought to be the only UV rays to worry about since they are shorter in length and cause sunburn. However, it became understood that UVA rays also pose risks. They age the skin and contribute to skin cancer.

 SPF does not predict UVA protection, so in order to get the best sun protection possible, look for a sunscreen or sunblock that indicates both UVA and UVB protection, or broad spectrum protection.

SPF Clothing

Clothing is perhaps the most basic form of sun protection, but it's not all created equal. Sure, a long-sleeved shirt covers more skin and therefore provides more sun protection than a tank top, and a floppy, wide-brimmed hat shields the face better than a baseball hat. But even if you're covered in clothing from head to toe, that clothing isn't of much use if the sun can make its way right through the fabric fibers.

Fabric is made from fibers that are knitted or woven together, and when a fabric is examined under a microscope, the spaces between those fibers are visible. UV rays can penetrate through those spaces and reach the skin. The more tightly knit a fabric, like denim, the less UV rays can get through. The less tightly knit a fabric, like linen, the more UV rays can get through.

Unfortunately lightweight, summery fabrics like linen and cotton feature open weaves that allow more UV rays to penetrate. You should apply SPF to parts of your body that are covered up depending on the fabric you're wearing.

UPF clothing is clothing made with an ultraviolet protection factor. UPF clothing is becoming increasingly more common, especially for kids' clothing and beachwear items like rash guards and swim shirts. The SPF of regular clothing, however, can be measured. For example, nylon stockings have an SPF of 2. Hats, depending on the size and shape of the brim, have an SPF of 3 to 6. Lightweight, summer clothing typically has an SPF of 6.

Picking the Right One

If you have ever been to the sunscreen aisle at your local drugstore, you know how overwhelming it can be. The bottles and tubes are all full of abbreviations such as SPF, UVAs, UVBs and options such as waterproof and water resistant add to the confusion, not to mention the wide array of brands and choices that you have to choose from.

What Is the Best SPF to Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.

The higher the SPF number, the better protection against the sun's harmful UVB rays. The SPF number lets you know how much longer you can stay out in the sun without burning. For example, if it usually takes you 20 minutes of sun time to burn, then a SPF 15 will allow you to stay out in the sun 15 times longer without burning — that would mean an SPF 15 would allow you to be in the sun for 5 hours without burning, if there is no addition of water or sweat (the SPF level is compromised once water enters the equation, and so you would have to reapply).

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for maximum protection. SPF is available in levels from 2 to 60. Does the highest level mean the best protection? Not necessarily. An SPF of 50 only provides 1% to 2% more protection than an SPF 30.

UVA and UVB Protection. UVA rays are mostly responsible for the aging effects of the sun while UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.

 However it's important to note that an overexposure to UVA rays can also lead to skin cancer.

The label on the tube of sunscreen will indicate whether it provides UVA or UVB protection. In order to prevent skin cancer and early skin aging, the sunscreen needs to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, with a minimum SPF of 15 — Otherwise the sunscreen is only preventing sunburn, and not skin cancer.

Choose a product that states, "UVA/UVB," protection or has "broad spectrum" protectant.

Waterproof vs. Water Resistant. The level of SPF is compromised when your skin comes into contact with water. This means that you must reapply sunscreen as soon as you are out of the water or if you are participating in an activity where you are sweating.

If you are looking for a sunscreen to use while in the water, choose a sunscreen that is "waterproof" or "water resistant." Waterproof sunscreens are not actually waterproof, and should provide protection in the water for 80 minutes, while water resistant sunscreens provide only 40 minutes of protection.

What Is Right For You

The right SPF varies per person and all depends on how your skin usually fares in the sun. A lower SPF of 30 should be fine for darker skin tones that tan easily and rarely burn when applied every 2 hours. Those with fair-skin that burns easily, should be using a higher SPF of 50 and over at the absolute minimum, and also reapplying every 2 hours or less.

Since SPF claims are strictly regulated by the FDA, SPF labeling is consistent from company to company and switching between brands is not a problem. The right sunscreen for you is the one you're most likely to wear, so be sure to find the one that you like the feel, scent and texture of, while matching the SPF level required by your individual skin tone.


Image from: clipartpanda.com

 




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