Articles
Best sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options
What are the most important things to know about protecting yourself from the sun?
Does the best sunscreen have the highest SPF?
Are some brands of sunscreen better than others?
Do I need to apply sunscreen if I wear cosmetics that contain sunscreen?
Content
What are the best ways to protect yourself from the sun?
What does a broad-spectrum sunscreen do?
What SPF do you need?
What does water-resistant sunscreen do?
What do I need to know about sunscreen ingredients?
Should I use a spray sunscreen or a lotion?
What else do I need to know about sunscreen?
What SPF do you need?
SPF stands for sun protection factor, a measure of how well sunscreen protects against UVB rays. (UVA protection isn't rated.) Manufacturers calculate SPF based on how long it takes to sunburn skin treated with the sunscreen as compared to skin with no sunscreen.
Experts recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreens with SPFs greater than 50 provide only a small increase in UV protection. High-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs.
Sunscreen is often not applied thoroughly or thickly enough, and it can be washed off during swimming or sweating. As a result, sunscreen might be less effective than the SPF number suggests.
