No sunscreen can block all UV rays, but what we do know is: SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, the difference between 30 and 50 is about 1 percent.
Regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. Help prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun, including wrinkles, sagging and age spots.
For day-to-day use, pick a sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. If you spend time outdoors, choose a product with SPF 60 or greater. In reality, most people do not use as much sunscreen as they should, and this higher SPF helps compensate.
The number of the SPF show's how much protection it is providing to your skin: SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation. SPF 30 blocks nearly 97% of UVB radiation. SPF 50 blocks approximately 98% of UVB rays.
Here's another way to think about all this: As a general rule, SPF 15 protects you against 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent of UVB rays. Higher than SPF 50 won't offer you any significant extra protection—if anything, it just gives people a false sense of security.
"For Indian skin, any sunscreen containing SPF 15 and above is preferred. The difference between SPF 15 and 50 is minimal. Sunscreens with higher SPF ratings block slightly more UVB rays, but none offers 100 percent protection," she said.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends SPF 15 every day you leave your house and SPF 30 if you plan to be in the sun most of the day.
Experts say sunscreens with an SPF higher than 50 aren't worth buying. They only offer marginally better protection. They might also encourage you to stay out in the sun longer. Instead, choose an SPF between 15 and 50, apply liberally, and reapply often.
The SPF 50 provides adequate protection for your skin by forming a protective layer on the skin that shields it from UVA and UVB rays. The lotion is ideal for skin tones found in India. It absorbs quickly and can also be worn under makeup. It is suitable for all skin types because it is both non-sticky and hydrating.
Who Needs Sunscreen? Every child needs sun protection. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that all kids — regardless of their skin tone — wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
What SPF is best for dark skin? The dermatologists we consulted recommend a minimum of SPF 30 — as does the American Academy of Dermatology. However, Henry recommends you apply SPF 50 if you're outside for more than an hour.
"We commissioned an expert report on the use of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer in England. According to this evidence, which was presented to the committee, SPF 15 should be sufficient as long as it is applied adequately.
Do You Need to Wear Sunscreen Indoors? The short answer is yes. As Green mentioned, UV rays can pass through glass windows. Because of this, it's important to wear SPF inside your home, as well as inside your car.
Wu says that if you're adamant about having just one type of moisturizer, choose a moisturizer with SPF for both day and night: “There's no harm in using SPF at night," Dr. Wu reminds us. Based on Dr. Wu's intel, we've rounded up our favorite nighttime and daytime moisturizes.
A great choice for sensitive and acne-prone complexions, The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF15 with Antioxidants is made with Tasmanian Pepperberry to calm stressed out skin, and non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking) silicones for a silky, lightweight feel.
Sunscreen SPF and Skin Protection
For best protection, experts recommend using a minimum SPF sunscreen of 15, applying the proper amount (2mg/cm2 of skin, or about one ounce for full body coverage), and reapplying every 2 hours. Most people under-apply sunscreens, using ¼ to ½ the amount required.
According to the FDA, Sunscreens should reapply every two hours and more often after swimming or sweating. Must remember to follow this instruction, as a failure of this can retard the sunscreen's efficacy.
SPF 50+ sunscreens are formulated to allow less damaging rays to reach your skin's surface than lower SPF sunscreens. For example, when applied correctly, SPF30+ allows 3.3% of UVB rays to reach your skin while SPF 50+ allows only 2% to reach your skin.
A sunscreen with SPF 30 will protect you from around 96.7% of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 50 means protection from about 98% of UVB rays. Anything beyond SPF 50 makes very little difference in terms of risk of sun damage, and no sunscreens offer 100% protection from UVB rays.
“SPF 15 blocks 94% UVB rays, whereas SPF 30 blocks 97% UVB and SPF 50 blocks 98% UVB. Therefore, it's a good idea to opt for SPF 50 even on a daily basis. But not more than that as SPF higher than it can only block an additional 2% of UVB radiation.” Even dermatologist Dr.
WHY SPF30 IS THE NEW SPF50
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. In theory, an SPF 50 sunscreen would allow users to stay out in the sun fifty times longer than they normally could without sunscreen, while SPF 30 would imply that users can stay out thirty times longer before getting sunburned.
Put another way, if your unprotected skin would take ten minutes to show signs of burning, then properly applying SPF 30 sunscreen would slow the rate of burning to the point where it would take 30 times longer, or 300 minutes in total. SPF 15 would take 150 minutes, while SPF 50, 500 minutes.
Dermatologists recommend using an SPF of at least 30, which Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, a dermatologist practicing in New York, calls "the magic number". SPF 15 blocks about 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks about 97 percent of UVB rays. The ADA recommends an SPF of 30 or higher.