Sunscreen SPF and Skin Protection. What does it all mean?
Confused with what SPF (Sun Protection Factor) actually means? Here is a brief summary to help.
The skin normally burns after just 10 minutes when directly exposed to the sun. Applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes (15 times longer than without sunscreen) or 2.5 hours. An SPF 30 gives approximately 300 minutes (30 times longer) or 5 hours.
These are approximations, however, as skin reaction times to sun exposure will vary depending on your skin-type. UV radiation can also differ in strength depending on your location in the world and the time of day/season. Sunscreens should also be reapplied after swimming or profuse sweating even if they are water-resistant.
SPF is also an indicator of what percentage of UVB (ultraviolet B) is blocked. No sunscreen offers 100% UVB protection.
SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
So one way of looking at this is that an SPF 30 sunscreen only gives you 4% more protection from UVB’s than a SPF 15 sunscreen. However, the higher SPF offers longer protection.
So why use a natural sunscreen?
1. Safer for your skin and your body: Natural sunscreens use mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to physically block the sun’s rays. This means they are gentler, more moisturising, non-toxic and non-irritating – less likely to cause any form of reaction on your skin. Chemical-based ingredients found in generic sunscreens absorb the UV rays rather than block them completely, plus the formulations they use have been found to cause irritation and allergies to the skin. Chemical sunscreens, as well as chemical skincare and cosmetics, can also contain nano-particles which are small particles that can be absorbed by the body and cause toxicity.
2. Eco-friendly: Natural sunscreen is formulated with raw ingredients that are free from harmful chemicals making them much safer for our oceans, reefs and overall environment. So how does this differ from generic sunscreen? Generic sunscreen being chemical based contain two key ingredients, oxybenzone and octinoxate, these ingredients have been shown to be harmful to the environment and can bleach coral reefs, damage marine life and contribute to environmental pollution.
3. Long-lasting protection: Natural sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection again both UVA and UVB rays. What this means is, it has a higher sun protection factor. Due to the chemicals found in generic sunscreen it becomes less effective with time because when exposed to the sun, heat and water the chemicals breakdown and become less effective which means it is advised to reapply generic sunscreens every hour for maximum sun protection.
4. Great for kids: Natural sunscreen are nourishing to children and babies’ soft skin and won’t cause irritation or sensitivity. So how does this differ from generic sunscreen? Due to the formulation of these sunscreens, they have been found to be irritating and uncomfortable for little one’s fresh skin and can cause allergic reactions when first applied.
The best advice?
Pick a good quality natural sunscreen with UVA & UVB protection (broad spectrum). Apply well and reapply often, especially after swimming. Slip your shades on, wear a hat when possible and enjoy the sunshine!