Essentially EmmaMarie

The summer has slipped away and fall is creeping in on us. It is cooling off and while people like me are sorry to see the hot weather go, others of you may be finding yourself spending even more time outside in the sunshine! It’s good for us to be outside when we can; the sun is an endorphin booster, it helps our vitamin D levels which are very important, it’s so good for us right? Wait, what about spf, aren’t we supposed to live inside so we don’t harm our skin and expose it to harmful UVA and UVB rays? No, it’s okay to be outside without protections for 15 minutes a day so you can get your allotment of vitamin D for the day…And so the arguments go, there are many opposing and nuanced views- and that is to say nothing about what kind and how strong of spf we should be wearing! Just what does all of it mean anyway?? I’m here to shed some light on SPF coverage for you- I couldn’t resist throwing in that pun! 

What is SPF anyway?

SPF stands for sun protection factor. This means that if circumstances are ideal, (and when are they), you could be out in the sun for one minute would be equal to being outside for 30 minutes if you are using a sunscreen of 30 SPF. In theory at least this is how it works. The SPF is filtering out the harmful UVA and UVB rays.  It is very important to make sure your sunscreen is filtering out both UVA and UVB raysor one that is broad spectrum protection. 

Understanding How SPF Works

The. Higher. the SPF. The. More protection. However this doesn’t mean that by applying and SPF of 60 rather than 30 that you are covered. According to the American Cancer Society’s website it’s more of a sliding scale with an SPF of 15 filtering 93% of harmful rays, 30 filtering 97%, 50 filtering  98%, and SPF of 100 filtering about 99% of harmful rays. No sunscreen filters out all harmful rays. It is generally recommended that for normal everyday activity you use at least 15 SPF and at least 30 SPF for days when you will spend a majority of your time outside. Just because you are using a high SPF doesn’t mean that you are suddenly impervious to the sun’s rays. If you opt to go for a higher SPF treat it the same way you would a lower SPF to make sure you are getting the full benefits of using a higher level. 

What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

UVA rays are the rays that make you tan and the rays that will result in early signs of aging. UVB rays are the ones that make you burn. 

Different types of SPF 

Now what are the different types of SPF? There are two major categories- physical and chemical spf. The physical rays work by scattering the sun’s rays before they touch your skin. Sunscreens that contain the ingredients Zinc Oxide, or Titanium Dioxide are physical sunscreens and tend to work better for people with sensitive skin. 

Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the rays from the sun before damaging your skin. Avobenzone and Octisalte are typical ingredients in chemical sunscreens, and a lot of sunscreens are a combination of both physical and chemical ingredients. 

How to Use and Apply SPF correctly. 

As I mentioned above if you choose to use a higher SPF, (such as 50 SPF or higher), treat it as you would an SPF of 15 or 30. To apply you should use at least an ounce of sunscreen, as much as a good palm full or a shot glass full. No one wants to feel greasy all day but in order to make it worth while you need to make sure you get solid and even layer over your skin. An uneven layer will result in easier burning. Next make sure you are reapplying every 2 hours, or every 80 minutes if you are swimming or heavily sweating; yes this is a pain but so is sunburn and cancer! Always make sure to read the directions on your sunscreen. 

I hope this helps clarify what to look for in your sunscreen. Please remember this information is to help add to your knowledge- not to be all your knowledge! Be sure to do your own research and talk to a professional if you have any questions or underlying conditions!