What is spf

When in doubt, go with the You can still get a tan while wearing sunscreen. Adults of all ages and skin color should use at least an SPF of 30 during all outdoor activities. Children over 6 months old should wear a cream-based sunscreen of at least SPF Protective clothing and shade can also help protect you from the sun.

But does it actually stop your skin from…. Looking for the best sunscreen for your skin type? Check out these tips and product selections to get you started on the search for your sunscreen…. Here are the warm, hard facts about sunscreen, skin cancer, and the proper way to play in the sunshine this summer.

Here are 16 of the best sunscreens on the market in spray, lotion, and solid forms, and for different needs. They're tried and true. The following exposures may result in the same amount of solar energy:. Generally, it takes less time to be exposed to the same amount of solar energy at midday compared to early morning or late evening because the sun is more intense at midday relative to the other times.

Solar intensity is also related to geographic location, with greater solar intensity occurring at lower latitudes. Because clouds absorb solar energy, solar intensity is generally greater on clear days than cloudy days. In addition to solar intensity, there are a number of other factor that influence the amount of solar energy that a consumer is exposed to:. Fair-skinned consumers are likely to absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned consumers under the same conditions.

UVB rays cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. UVA rays are also damaging and dangerous to your skin. Higher SPFs don't provide that much more protection. Sunscreen SPF and Skin Protection If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately minutes a factor of 15 times longer.

Sunscreen products in Australia also protect against UVA rays. The SPF indicated the length of time that you skin is protected from sunburn. All skin types are different and have varying results from sun exposure. Depending on you skin type, location and the time of year, the time it takes for you to begin getting burned is between 5 to 30 minutes on average.

To help you understand a bit better if you start getting sunburned after five minutes in the sun without any sunscreen applying a sunscreen with an SPF30 would protect you for 30 x five minutes or minutes before you begin to burn. So, doubling the level of protection will block half the radiation that an SPF15 would. As you know, sunscreens vary in SPF. In Australia our sunscreen standards have the following below levels.