Dermatology News & Patient Information

  SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it measures the level of protection that a sunscreen offers against the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sunscreen provides.... kind of.... It is important to note that SPF is a logarithmic scale, which means that the level of protection does not increase linearly with the SPF number. Since this is not a math lesson, lets look at a few examples instead. For example, an SPF 15 sunscreen filters out about 93% of UVB rays, while an SPF 30 sunscreen filters out about 97% of UVB rays. Or said another way, Going from SPF 15 to SPF 30 increases the protection by only 4%. Here are some examples of the level of protection provided by different SPF numbers: SPF 15: This sunscreen filters out about 93% of UVB rays. It is a good option for everyday use and is suitable for people who spend limited time in the sun. SPF 30: This sunscreen filters out about 97% of UVB rays. It is a good choice...

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection against UVB rays. However, it is important to note that SPF only measures protection against UVB rays, not UVA rays, which can also cause skin damage and aging. SPF 15 is the minimum recommended SPF for daily use and blocks about 93% of UVB rays. It is suitable for those with light skin who do not spend a lot of time in the sun. SPF 30 is the most commonly recommended SPF and blocks about 97% of UVB rays, making it suitable for those with fair to medium skin who spend a moderate amount of time in the sun. SPF 60 provides even greater protection against UVB rays, blocking about 98%, but is recommended for those with sensitive skin or who spend a lot of time in the sun. It is recommended to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. While higher SPF values may of...