As summer and sun are upon us, protecting ourselves from the latter has now become a daily necessity. Whether you’re staying at home or going on a holiday, sunscreen should be your best friend over the coming months. Yet how do you choose a great sunscreen?
First of all: sunscreen should not just be something you swear by during the hottest months of the year. Dermatologists around the globe highly recommend protecting any exposed skin with sunscreen throughout the year, even when you’re mostly staying inside or during the winter. While this might seem strange at first, there’s actually a scientific explanation: according to the World Health Organization, even on cloudy days, up to 80% of harmful UV rays can penetrate the clouds and reach or skin, year-round.
And while applying sunscreen might not always be something you’re looking forward to, it is of utmost importance. Both the UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun are harmful for our body and can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and pigmentation. The American Academy of Dermatology Association estimates that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, so protecting yourself as much as possible should be a no-brainer.
However, choosing your sunscreen can be quite the hassle. With the never-ending list of brands and formulations out there, understanding what is written on a sunscreen label will help you to make the right and responsible choice. We spotlight the most important things to look out for.
1. SPF
On most sunscreen labels, the SPF (sun protection factor) will be the most prominent information you will find. This number tells you how well the product will protect you against UVB light, also known as the rays that cause sunburn.
While SPF 15, SPF 30 or SPF 50 might seem like a random way to classify a sunscreen, they actually refer to how many UVB rays a sunscreen lets through. For example, SPF 15 allows 1/15th of the UVB rays to pass, while SPF 50 lets just 1/50th of the rays through.
It is important to be aware that even sunscreens labeled as SPF 50+ don’t filter the entirety of the UVB rays. Overall, SPF 30 is considered to offer a “satisfactory form of sun protection in addition to protective shade and clothing” by the British Association of Dermatologists yet you can always opt for a higher SPF.
2. UVA protection
As we’ve explained before, the SPF factor of you sunscreen solely concerns the UVB rays emitted by the sun. Yet there is also the matter of UVA rays, which are associated with ageing of the skin, pigmentation, as well as skin cancer, and can even go through glass.
A sunscreen’s protection against those UVA rays can be expressed in many ways, depending on the country where you’re buying your sunscreen. For example, in Europe, sunscreen products are obliged to offer a UVA protection of at least a third of the SPF factor. Try to look for a circled ‘UVA’ symbol on the packaging.
In the United Kingdom, however, UVA protection is measured in term of stars. A star rating from one to five shows the percentage of UVA rays absorbed by the sunscreen compared to the number of absorbed UVB rays. The higher the SPF and the more stars the product has, the better. In the United States, try looking for a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen.
3. Water resistan
Many sunscreens say to be water resistant. While some resists better than others, no sunscreen is actually entirely water resistant. These days, most products indicate how long exactly they will be effective in water – 40 or 80 minutes.
Once you’ve come out of the water or once you’ve dried yourself with a towel, your sunscreen will need to be reapplied. Whether or not you have been in the water or you have been sweating, all sunscreens need to be reapplied every two hours.
4. Physical or chemical sunscreen
Another piece of information you might find on the label of a bottle of sunscreen is wether the active ingredients are physical, chemical, or hybrid. If the active ingredient in your sunscreen is titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, the sunscreen is considered to be physical or mineral. Generally speaking, this is seen as the better option for people with sensitive skin. All other sunscreens are chemical, while some use a combination of both.
General sunscreen applying advice
Choosing the right sunscreen is essential if you want to be well-protected against both UVA and UVB rays yet applying it correctly is just as important. Dermatologists advise adults to use the equivalent of approximately a shot glass filled with sunscreen to protect their skin from head to toe – yet most people don’t even apply half that amount. Try being entirely naked while applying the product and don’t forget often-missed spots such as your toes and ears. Try to apply the screen 15 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours.
Aside from using the appropriate sunscreen and the right amount of it, protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun also means wearing protective clothing and seeking out shade. Spending the entire day out in the sun, even when you’re slathered in sunscreen, is not advised.
