Thursday, September 16, 2010

SPF Info

An SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation, while SPF 30 blocks nearly 97%.  SPF 50 blocks approximately 98%.  Above 50, the increase in UVB protection is minimal.  Higher SPF values offer some increased safety, generally because people do not apply enough sunscreen.  To determine SPF, 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin is used. In reality, most people only use 0.5 to 1 milligram per square centimeter of skin, so, the actual SPF they are receiving is about 1/3 of the labeled value.

SPF's mainly measure UVB protection, so be sure to choose a sunscreen that included UVA protection!  UVA rays not only accelerate skin aging, but contributes to skin cancers.

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