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.
An SPF 30 allows about 3 percent of UVB rays to hit your skin. An SPF of 50 allows about 2 percent of those rays through. That may seem like a small difference until you realize that the SPF 30 is allowing 50 percent more UV radiation onto your skin.
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.
Lotions and sun-guards containing SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 20 to 35 are suitable for Indian skin types. The rays of the sun affect fair complexion easily. Lotions having SPF 30 is the best for people having a fair or wheatish complexion.
When possible, go with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. To be clear, an SPF higher than 30 isn't harmful or ineffective. If you have SPF 50, use and reapply it as often as you would SPF 30.
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.
Can you still tan using SPF50? The simple answer is yes, you can still tan using every SPF factor whether it is 15, 30 or 50+. The way SPF works is that sunscreen acts as a barrier so that only a certain amount of UV gets through to your skin but this is what makes being exposed to sunlight safer for you.
Does sunscreen lighten skin? Sunscreen deactivates UV radiation and therefore protects the skin from its damage. As a result of reduced production of melanin – the darkening pigment, the skin tone becomes lighter over time.
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.
The bottom line. Ultraviolet rays increase your risk for skin cancer and skin aging, and you are exposed to them every day. Over time, this sun damage starts to add up. Using sunscreen every day can help protect you from skin cancer and skin changes.
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.
Sunburn protection that is only marginally better.
Properly applied SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98 percent of UVB rays; SPF 100 blocks 99 percent. When used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values between 30 and 50 offers adequate sunburn protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn.
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.
The difference between a SPF 40 is you block out 97.5% of UVB radiation and SPF 50 blocks 98%. This is a very small difference for the cost of purchasing a SPF 50. More important than using a super high SPF is using enough sunscreen.
For newborns and babies under 6 months, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that parents can apply a minimal amount of baby-safe sunscreen with an SPF of 30-50 (no lower than SPF 15, though) to the face, back of the hands and tops of the feet.
A sunscreen's sun protection factor (SPF) is only fully effective for two hours after you put it on. Experts recommend carrying a bottle of SPF 30 to SPF 50 sunscreen around with you, even on cloudy or rainy summer days, so you can throw some on if the sun comes out.
You'll want to use about . 04 ounces of sunscreen on your face, which equates to the size of a nickel or 1/4 to 1/3 of a teaspoon. Don't forget your neck, area behind your ears, temples, or hairline.
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.
You don't have to put on moisturizer before sunscreen, however, you really should if you care about the over health of your skin and keeping signs of aging at bay. If you are going to use both moisturizer and sunscreen in your skincare routine, putting it on before your mineral sunscreen is best.
As a rule of thumb, use an ounce (a handful) to cover your entire body. Use on all parts of your skin exposed to the sun, including the ears, back, shoulders, and the back of the knees and legs. Apply thickly and thoroughly. Be careful when applying sunscreen around the eyes.
Dr. Marchbein also recommends the Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen SPF 30 because it's made without parabens, fragrances, or any known irritants that tend to make sensitive skin freak out.