What does SPF really mean?
SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor and it is a calculation based on how long it takes for someone to be over exposed to UVB rays while wearing sunscreen compared to someone who is not.
Many people think that it represents the number of hours that you can stay in the sun if you've applied the sunscreen. Sadly, this idea may account for the unexpected number of sun related skin cancers that many countries have recently experienced. The sunscreen itself can give a false sense of protection and unknowingly, people subject themselves to harmful UVA and UVB rays.
How to use the SPF as a practical guide:
The calculation is not that difficult. It is basic multiplication: Your skin type x SPF = Maximum Protection Minutes.
For example, a fair skinned person who burns after 10 minutes without a sunscreen will be protected for 60 minutes if he or she uses a sunscreen with an SPF of 6 (10 minutes x 6 SPF = 60 minutes of protection).
Assuming that you have applied the right amount of sunscreen, below are the MAXIMUM minutes that you could expect to be safely in the sun, based on your skin type and SPF.
Light to Fair Skin
- Without Sunscreen the SPF value is zero and you can expect to start feeling over exposed after 10 minutes.
- With Sunscreen:
- SPF 6: 60 minutes (1 hour)
- SPF 15: 150 minutes (2.5 hours)
- SPF 30: 300 minutes (5 hours)
Average Skin
- Without Sunscreen the SPF is zero and the maximum number of minutes is 15.
- With Sunscreen:
- SPF 6: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
- SPF 15: 225 minutes (3.75 hours)
- SPF 30: 450 minutes (7.5 hours)
Darker Skin
- Without Sunscreen the SPF is again zero and the maximum time is 20 minutes.
- With Sunscreen:
- SPF 6: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- SPF 15: 300 minutes (5 hours)
- SPF 30: 600 minutes (10 hours)
Don't be seduced by these numbers.
Remember that real life is not a mathematical formula. How long you can be exposed to the sun depends on:
- What is your skin type and how sensitive it is to the sun?
- Have you applied sunscreen in the right amounts?
- Are you engaged in any physical activity that would result in the sunscreen being thinned out, washed or sweated away?
Another thing to consider is that most people do not apply the sufficient amount of sunscreen. If so, the total time is reduced significantly. For optimal protection, apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you are in the sun and reapply after any physical activity.
Here is an info-graphic of this article.
If you would like to share this with a friend, here is a larger version.
Protect yourself and your loved ones.
Visit our collection of Clean and Clear Sunscreensn. We feature Burnout Clean Clear Zinc Oxide and we carry natural sunscreens with zero chemical formulas that biodegradable and ocean-safe.
|
