What SPF Sunscreen Should You Use? Here’s What Dermatologists Recommend

What does “SPF” stand for?

SPF refers to the sun protection factor. A sunscreen’s SPF is measured by how well it can save your skin from UVA & UVB damages.

What does the SPF number mean?

An SPF 30 means it takes 30 times to generate mild redness on your skin that is erythema when applying the sunscreen than it would take with no sunscreen coverage. So, when if it takes 10 minutes to develop redness without a sunscreen lotion. It can take 5 hours to build an equal amount of inflammation with an SPF 30 sun protection cream.

By the way, it is crucial to detect that SPF is measured in a dermatology laboratory under highly controlled conditions and often using a tiny part of UV Spectrum. When you are going outside, many other elements come into the scenario, such as external moisture, sweating, pollution, heat, and weather condition of the earth.

You may think about SPF values like EPA work efficiently on the modern automobile sales sheet. Both of them are very effective, but they have an immense difference between the two products.

Sunscreen does not work instantly. It may take a minimum of 30 minutes to work when it gets fully absorbed by the skin. For better protection, we suggest you wear sunscreen indoors 20 to 30 minutes before going out of the home.

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Does a higher SPF mean sunscreen is more efficient?

It is just a myth. Higher SPF does not mean it may protect you better. Sunscreen with more excellent SPF technically inhibits a high amount of UV rays, and there are reducing returns as the number of SPF increases. There is a considerable difference between SPF 10 and 30, but there is no massive difference between SPF 30 and SPF 60. Higher SPF does not mean it requires applying for a minimal number. A high SPF number does not mean it is going to offer broad-spectrum protection. We would suggest you choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 to SPF 50.

It needs to be clear that SPF more than 30 is harmful or ineffective; if you want to use SPF 30, use it frequently as you would apply with SPF 30.

Likewise, you ought to realize that when we talk about SPF, we’re just discussing protection from a particular kind of UV radiation: UVB rays. We should become familiar with the three types of UV beams and what they affect our skin.

There are different types of UV rays.

There are three types of UV radiation, including UV A, UV B, and UV C; each one is coming from the sun. But only UV A and UV B can touch the earth’s surface.

UVA: The 95% of the UV rays that can touch the earth’s surface is UV A; it has the immense capacity to activate the cancerous gene. They used to play a significant role in the aging process by developing oxidative stress. Thus, it can induce wrinkle formation.

UV B: UVB rays are familiar with the other 6% of UV light that touches us from the sun. UV B rays have the capacity to damage skin’s DNA, which is the primary reason for skin sensitivity, skin cancer, and sunburn.

UV C: UV C effectively absorbed the earth’s ozone layer. It can never come to the surface. However, they can still be found in the artificial tanning bed, welding clamps, and welding torches.

Significant Damages from UV rays

Both UVA and UVB radiation can temporarily harm your skin (by causing excruciating burns from the sun) and in the long aftereffect (causing skin malignancy). These beams of sun can likewise prompt the aging process and encourage the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation.

We must be aware that exposure to UV light will harm skin cells. This harm can happen directly to the cell DNA or, by implication, by the creation of substances that may then harm DNA.

The necessity of broad-spectrum sun protection

You have to protect your skin from sun damages and sunburn. UV B can be protected through Window glass, But UV A can not be protected through the glass. That means, when you are inside of your home or office, you may get exposed to some amount of UV radiation. That’s why dermatologist suggests you to wear sunscreen regularly after bath on your face and most exposed area of your body. The capacity of SPF is usually measured against UVB because you can not completely protect your skin from UVA; it is inevitable. Therefore, we would suggest you pick a sunscreen that is labeled with a broad spectrum.

After applying sunscreen, if you face skin irritation, soreness, redness, don’t leave them untreated; it may be due to over sensitivity to the sun. Take the help of a skin specialist in the UAE for medical assistance.


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