Sun Protection

The SPF on sunscreen bottles stands for “Sun Protection Factor” and states how well the sunscreen protects against UV radiation, called UVB. UVB rays cause sunburns and several types of skin cancers, and so protection of this is highly important!

Another type of radiation that SPF protects against is UVA radiation. This penetrates deeper into the skin and can cause premature wrinkling, fine lines, age spots and can heighten the risk of some cancers. A broad-spectrum sunscreen blocks against both UVA and UVB.

Using a sunscreen with an SPF between 15 and 50 is recommended every day, 365 days a year, to protect against the sun’s rays! It does not need to be warm or sunny outdoors for UV rays to damage your skin, so be sure to wear your sunscreen all year round.

Although, no SPF can block 100% of the UV rays, it is still very important to protect yourself, ideally with an SPF of 50, as this will give you longer protection against the UV rays. The number of SPF protection refers to roughly how long it will take for a person’s skin to become red when out in the sun. Sunscreen with a SPF of 50 will prevent your skin from becoming red for approximately 50 times longer than usual. However, as most people do not use enough sunscreen, or it rubs or washes off, it is important to reapply sunscreen within two hours regardless of its strength.