Question 1

Who needs sunscreens?

Accepted Answer

Everyone! regardless of age, gender, race & color of the skin.

Question 2

What does SPF stand for?

Accepted Answer

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor which is a standard measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent one type of UV ray, called UVB rays which cause sunburn and may lead to several types of skin cancer.

Question 3

What is the difference between SPF 15, 30, and 50?

Accepted Answer

Studies show that SPF15 will protect your skin from  93% of the UVB radiation,  SPF30 will protect you skin from 97% of the UVB radiation,  and  SPF50 will protect your skin from 98%  of the UVB radiation.

Question 4

How long will sunscreen protect my skin?

Accepted Answer

The rule of thumb is to take the number of SPF and multiple that by 10. This will give you how many minutes of protection you will have. So when applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 30, you will have an estimated time of 300 minutes of protection.

With that said there are a number of variables that can play a factor with the total amount of time that you will have protection. Things like skin type, intensity of the sun, being fully emerged in the water, sweat and the amount of sunscreen used can all alter the amount of time that you have protection.

It is suggested that you reapply sunscreen every 2 hours especially after activities that require you being in the sun for long periods of time.

Question 5

How much sunscreen should I apply?

Accepted Answer

For just your face it is suggested that you apply 1.22mL of sunscreen. If for your face and neck, it is suggested to apply 1.65mL of sunscreen. If for your entire body it is suggested that you apply 30mL of sunscreen.

Question 6

What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays

Accepted Answer

There are two basic types of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth’s surface—UVB and UVA. UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburn. The UVB rays also play the greatest role in causing skin cancers, including the deadly black mole form of skin cancer (malignant melanoma).

UVA rays also play a role in skin cancer formation. In addition, the UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin and play a greater role in premature skin aging changes including wrinkle formation (photoaging). There are approximately 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays. Therefore, in addition to protecting your skin from the effects of UVB rays, it is also very important to protect from the damaging effects of the more numerous UVA rays.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions