rumor has it: sun safety
Sunscreen is one of the most heavily debated products in the beauty industry. There are plenty of myths about how sunscreen and SPF works and today I’ll be debunking a lot of those myths but first, what is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a measurement of how effectively a product will protect against the harmful rays of the sun. The sun emits three types of Ultra Violet rays. (Two of which we will discuss more in depth later; UVA and UVB) These harmful rays are what cause freckling, burns, dark spots, and yes, even wrinkles. Sun exposure is actually the leading cause of premature aging. Did you know 90% of wrinkles are cause by sun exposure and only 10% are actually caused by the natural process of aging?
There are plenty of rumors around sun safety and sunscreens; it makes it hard to know what to believe. Today, I’ll be debunking all of your favorite sunscreen myths and explaining the science behind it all.
Rumor has it an SPF of 100 doesn’t really do anything.
The numbers of the SPF rating are often wildly misunderstood. Some people believe that the numbers stand for the amount of minutes you can be in the sun without burning (absolutely not true) and others believe the numbers stand for the percentage of protection you’re getting (Close but not quite). The SPF rating does tell you how much protection you’ll get from the product but the system works on more of a bell curve.
It is impossible for a sunscreen to block out all 100% of UV rays, which means you could apply an SPF of 15 but that doesn’t mean it will protect you from 15% of UV rays. In short; SPF15 will block 90% of UV rays, SPF30 will block 97%, SPF50 will block 98%, and SPF100% will block 99%. So it’s not that an SPF of 100 won’t help at all, it’s just that there’s not a huge difference between SPF30 and SPF100.
Pro Tip: Wear an SPF of 15-25 for everyday activities like walking to and from work or running errands. An SPF of 50 or higher should be used for more prolonged sun exposure like a pool or beach day!
Rumor has it all sunscreens are the same.
Actually, there is a pretty significant difference between sunscreens. Sun protection comes in two forms; chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens. Sunscreens use active ingredients called UV absorbers that absorb the UV rays hitting the skin and break them up. Physical sunscreens use ingredients called UV blockers to physically shield the skin and deflect the UV rays.
Some people stay away from chemical sunscreens because they worry about the effect the ingredients could have on their endocrine system. Studies have shown that while there has been a growth in uterine in rats, the amounts given to the rats were not amounts that would parallel with what humans are exposed to today. (Bain, Julie. “Sunscreen Safety.” Sun and Skin News, 19 July 2018,) Other people stay away from physical sun blocks due to the heaviness and possible irritation left on the skin. While there has been a lot of debate about which form is “better” for you, it’s best to remember that today, most sunscreens are made with both UV absorbers and UV blockers in order to get the best coverage.
Pro Tip: When looking on the ingredient label, look for the active ingredients to tell you how the product protects. Chemical ingredients such as Oxybenzone and Avobenzone will absorb the UV rays. Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide are active ingredients found in physical sunscreens.
Photo by James Douglas
Rumor has it all sunscreens protect against all kinds of UV rays.
As mentioned above there are three types of UV rays with the most important two being UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are longer and penetrate deeper into the skin. These are the rays that can lead to wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of aging. UVB rays are shorter in length and will mainly hit the first few layers of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) before traveling to the dermis (the deeper layers). Because of their intense nature and shorter length, these rays are the ones that can cause sunburn and darkening of the skin in tanning and freckles. Not all sunscreen will protect against both types.
Sunscreen is one of the most regulated cosmetic products. In 2011, the FDA looked into the guidelines that regulate SPF products more closely. Products now have to state on the packaging if they protect against UVA, UVB, or both. When a product protects against both it will be labeled as a “Broad Spectrum SPF”.
Pro Tip: Always go for the Broad Spectrum SPF.
Rumor has it if you apply SPF50 in the morning you’ll be protected all day
Reapplying: the one step that though extremely important, is often forgotten. Either you get too busy or you simply forget, but once those couple hours pass, that sunscreen you put on at 9am isn’t going to protect you from those 2pm rays.
SPF products are rarely 100% waterproof. If you apply an SPF before swimming or before a run, you will absolutely have to reapply afterwards in order to maintain the same level of protection. Some SPF products will state they are water resistant and if that is the case they should also have instructions on how long the sunscreen remains active after application.
Pro Tip: Apply SPF 30 minutes before sun exposure. This will allow your sunscreen to fully work it’s magic. You should also be sure to reapply at least every two hours or follow the instructions on the packaging.
Photo by Samantha Ball
The Sun is NOT your enemy!
By now you may be considering becoming a vampire or wearing long sleeves and hats for the rest of your life but let me say this: Yes, the sun can be harmful if you don’t use the proper protection methods but that doesn’t mean the sun is all bad! Sun provides vitamin D, which is extremely important for our mood, well-being, and liver function! 10 minutes of sun exposure is not only beneficial for your health but can also boost your mood!
Pro Tip: 10 minutes of sunshine a day if great! The key to keeping this balance between adequate sunshine and preventing skin cancer is simply to use SPF protection.
Bain, Julie. “Sunscreen Safety.” Sun and Skin News, 19 July 2018, blog.skincancer.org/2018/06/06/sunscreen-safety/.