Sunscreen

I’m heading out to Vegas this weekend and one of the items on my list of things to pack is sunscreen. My girlfriends tell me the higher the SPF the better, but what’s the difference between SPF of 30 and 100? Can you still tan with sunscreen? Hold on, sunblock? Ok, now what’s the difference between sunscreen and sunblock? Let the research begin.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor

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. With that said, the higher the SPF, the longer you can stay in the sun. For instance, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. So sunscreen with an SPF of 15 allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.

Sunscreen does not offer 100% Sun Protection

Sunscreens absorb ultraviolet light so that it doesn’t reach your skin. With the correct amount, an SPF 30 offers about 97% UVB sun protection, while an SPF 15 offers about 95% protection. So go for a higher SPF right? Well, an SPF higher than 30 is still only going to provide about 97% UVB protection. The higher the number just means you can stay out longer in the sun without getting burned.

Sunscreen vs. Sunblock

Most people use the terms sunblock and sunscreen interchangeably but they are not the same product. Sunscreen contains materials that act as a filter to allow a certain range of UV light to be absorbed into the skin. Hence, sunscreen will not prevent you from tanning, but it will lower your risk of getting burned.

Sunblocks are different from sunscreens in that, it doesn’t have an SPF because it physically protects the body from all UV rays. Sunblocks contain metallic materials — titanium dioxide or zinc oxide — that reflect and scatter the UVA and UVB rays, acting like a wall between the sun and your skin. Although they work well, they are messy. Because sunblocks are usually opaque — you can see it on skin — it’s typically used on small areas of a person’s body like their nose, ears or cheeks.

Sunscreen needs to be applied 365 days a year

Most people aren’t aware that sun damage begins the moment their skin sees daylight, spring, summer, winter or fall. Over time, cumulative exposure generates a lot of skin damage! Look for waterproof sunscreens that contain at least 10% zinc oxide and an SPF of 30+ and take care of your skin now before you regret years down the line!

For more information on sunscreen and sun essentials, check out Paula’s Choice.