The Importance of SPF in our Everyday-lives
- Mercan Gures
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Sunscreen overview
SPF (Sun Protection Factor), commonly known as sunscreen or sun block, is a dermatological product designed to protect our skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Nowadays, not only does it come as a cream or lotion, there are sprays, gels, sticks and foams of it too, however they all serve the same purpose: reducing the risk of sunburn, premature skin aging and most importantly reducing the risk of skin cancer. Applying sunscreen regularly on a daily basis, is one of the simplest things that can be built into routine to protect our skin when exposed to sunlight.
Mineral sunscreen
One of the types of sunscreen is mineral sunscreen which can also be referred to as “physical sunscreen” due to the specific way it protects against UV rays. Physical sunscreen sits on top of the skin as a separate layer and reflects UV rays. Furthermore it is common for mineral sunscreen to leave a white cast which is not appreciated by consumers making chemical sunscreen the more preferred option on the market. The product is mainly made up of inorganic UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide and as it does not require time to be absorbed into the skin, it starts working immediately after being applied.
Chemical sunscreen
The more popular option in sun protection tends to be chemical sunscreen as this is more lightweight and commonly does not leave a white cast. Chemical sunscreen works by absorbing damaging UV rays before they can harm our skin, and then turning it into heat that is later on released by the skin. Common ingredients of this product are oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate and various others. Chemical sunscreen requires time to be absorbed by your skin before it can properly work, since unlike mineral sunscreen it does not form a barrier on top of the skin but it rather becomes part of the skin by melting into it.
The types of UV rays
Sunlight can be broken down into UVA and UVB rays, of which both can be damaging in different ways. UVA rays are more commonly known to penetrate deeper and therefore contribute to visible signs of premature aging such as wrinkles or dark spots. Whereas UVB rays mainly affect the surface of the skin, causing sunburn. Traditional SPF usually only measures UVB protection, in order to fully protect our skin from UVB as well as UVA rays we should be using broad spectrum sunscreen.
How much does each SPF rate filter?
The different numbers behind “SPF” (e.g. SPF 30) show us how much of the UVB-rays hitting our skin actually get
filtered and therefore are relevant when deciding how
much protection is needed on different days.
SPF 15: filters roughly 93% of UVB-rays
SPF 30: filters roughly 97% of UVB-rays
SPF 50/50+: filters roughly 98% of UVB-rays
None of these offer a filter of 100%.
When should sunscreen be worn?
Sunscreen is often associated with summer and warm temperatures, but in reality it is a product for all the seasons, as it all comes down to the UV index. UV index is a measure of the strength of sunburn-causing ultraviolet radiation from the sun at a specific place and time which is measured so:
Low ( UV index of 1-2): minimal risk. No need for high SPF, basic sun protection such as SPF 15 may be worn.
Moderate (UV index of 3-5): Moderate risk. SPF 30 should be worn.
High (UV index of 6-7): High risk of harm from unprotected exposure. SPF 30+ is recommended.
Very High (UV index of 8-10): Very high risk. SPF 50+ must be worn.
Extreme (UV index of 11+): Extreme risk. Any sun exposure should be avoided.
UV index certainly plays a role in winter too, and ultraviolet radiation can be even more harmful with snow involved as snow will serve as a mirror, reflecting the rays back to us. Overall it can be said that the importance lies in checking the UV index daily and acting according to that no matter the temperature or the season.
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