What sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen should I use?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This number only applies to protection from ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, not to ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which can also cause sun damage to the skin. Sunscreens that protect against both types of rays are labeled as "broad spectrum." Only a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF will truly help protect you against skin cancer. Talk to a dermatologist for more information.
Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing to safeguard your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This number only applies to protection from ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, not to ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which can also cause sun damage to the skin.... More -
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Beware of SPF "inflation." There's a decent case to be made that the sun protection factor (SPF) numbers on many sunscreens may be too high and create a false sense of security. But even if they're accurate, few people apply sunscreen perfectly or use nearly enough. So squirt on a lot and go high, not low. Although technically an SPF 30 filters out only 4% more ultraviolet B (UVB) rays than an SPF 15 (97% versus 93%), if you go with an SPF 30 (higher if you burn easily), you also get better protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. They're the kind that penetrate deeper and cause skin damage that leads to wrinkles and cancer. We say: SPF 30 is the bare minimum you should use.
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Beware of SPF "inflation." There's a decent case to be made that the sun protection factor (SPF) numbers on many sunscreens may be too high and create a false sense of security. But even if they're accurate, few people apply sunscreen... More -
Dr. Catherine Balestra of MDLIVE answered:SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor” and indicates a sunscreen’s ability to protect skin from sunburn rays (UVB rays). UVB rays are responsible for the redness and tenderness of a sunburn (remember UVB for Burning). The higher the SPF, the longer the sunscreen will allow you to stay exposed to the sun before you burn. For example, an SPF of 15 will let you spend 15 times more minutes in the sun before you burn, but an SPF of 30 will allow you to spend 30 times more minutes exposed before burning. Said differently, if you were to sunburn after 30 minutes of noontime sun without wearing sunscreen, you could spend 45 minutes exposed wearing SPF 15 before you burned, or you could spend 90 minutes exposed wearing SPF 30 before you burned.
SPF 15 provides 93% protection against harmful UVB rays if applied in the FDA testing amount of 2mg/cm2 (a very thick white film). But studies show that most people apply sunscreen in a thinner film than how the sunscreens are tested. Usually, we apply 25% to 50% of the amount tested, and therefore we get 25% to 50% of the advertised SPF number. If you are like most people when you apply a sunscreen labeled SPF 30, you are probably getting only SPF 7.5 to SPF 15. Keeping all this in mind, sunscreens with SPF of 30 or higher are appropriate.
Importantly, UVB and UVA rays should be blocked for optimal skin protection from the sun. Therefore, be sure your sunscreen bottle clearly states UVA blockage, since SPF only address UVB coverage. UVA coverage is important to prevent Aging as well as skin cancer.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulSPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor” and indicates a sunscreen’s ability to protect skin from sunburn rays (UVB rays). UVB rays are responsible for the redness and tenderness of a sunburn (remember UVB for... More -
Dr. Arthur Perry answered:A sun protection factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen with ultraviolet A (UVA) coverage is just fine for daily use. But if you go to the beach or play sports or garden for more than a half an hour, use an SPF 30. Make sure the sunscreen has UVA coverage, because the SPF level on the label only refers to ultraviolet B (UVB). And the sun's rays contain both UVA and UVB, and both of those are dangerous.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulA sun protection factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen with ultraviolet A (UVA) coverage is just fine for daily use. But if you go to the beach or play sports or garden for more than a half an hour, use an SPF 30. Make sure the sunscreen has UVA coverage,... More
