CHICAGO (WGN) — When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s rays, not all sunscreens are created equal.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is made up of two main types of rays that can damage your skin.
UVB rays cause sunburn and UVA rays penetrate deeper and lead to skin aging, wrinkles and long-term damage.
The SPF, or sun protection factor, mainly measures UVB protection. It indicates how much longer it would take for your skin to burn compared to if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen at all.
For example, with SPF 30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you had no sunscreen on at all.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays while SPF 50 blocks about 98%.
While the difference may seem small, the Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 allows 50% more UV radiation to reach your skin than SPF 50, which can make a big difference if you’re in the sun for a long period of time.
But even when using a higher SPF, extra precautions should still be taken. The Skin Cancer Foundation stresses the importance of:
- Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure
- Reapplying every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating
- Wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses
For those who are at high risk of skin cancer, SPF 50 may not even be enough. In these cases, layering protection and seeking shade when possible becomes even more crucial.
For any extended outdoor activity, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
