How can we choose the right sunscreen product?

**Amber Minogue** (0:04)
How can we choose the right sunscreen product?
Thanks for asking.
July is nearly upon us, which means it's summer holiday time for many of you. Whether you're going on a beach holiday, city break or camping trip, the chances are you'll be soaking up the sun's rays. Of course, sunshine activates vitamin D production in the body, which has numerous benefits, like protecting us from disease and improving mental health. But on the other hand, being exposed for too long can accelerate skin aging. Excessive UV can even lead to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 100,000 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone in 2022 To reduce health risks, it's important to look after yourself by staying in the shade when the sun is at its hottest, wearing appropriate protective clothing, and using sunscreen. What should I be looking out for when comparing products? It's easy to get bogged down by all the lotions, creams and oils you come across in stores. Make sure you don't confuse sunscreen with tanning oils, which aren't designed to avoid skin damage. The most important thing to look out for on the packaging is the SPF number. The abbreviation stands for sun protection factor, and the higher it is, the more protection a product offers against the sun's rays, and more specifically, ultraviolet B-rays, known as UVBs. There are four levels of SPF. Low protection, which is under 15, medium protection from 15 to 29, high protection from 30 to 49, and very high protection for products with an SPF of 50 or higher. It's all related to the proportion of UVBs that are blocked out. These ultraviolet lights have a wavelength between 280 and 315 nanometers. They lead to sunburn, blisters and most skin cancers. According to verywellhealth.com, a sunscreen with factor 15 blocks 93% of UVBs, factor 30 blocks 97%, factor 50 blocks 98% and factor 100 blocks 99%.
As you can see, once you get past factor 30, you don't get that much extra protection from going higher and higher. Bear in mind, it's physically impossible to block 100% of UVBs. Do sunscreens only protect us from UVBs? They are the most dangerous for our skin, but UVAs are also a threat. They have a wavelength between 315 and 400 nanometers, and they actually penetrate deeper into the skin than UVBs. They're responsible for pigmentation marks, aging skin and wrinkles. It's important to choose a sunscreen that matches your skin type. No prize is for guessing that the lighter someone's skin, the higher protection is needed. The same goes if you have conditions like a sunlight allergy, acne, rosacea or dermatitis. Meanwhile, people with darker skin are less likely to burn, so can generally stay safe using sunscreen with a lower factor.
How often should we be topping up on sunscreen? That really depends on your skin, but as a general rule, it's advisable to do so every two hours. And anytime you take part in water activities, you should apply it copiously. To calculate a suncream's SPF, pharmaceutical companies test their products with specific conditions. The rule of thumb is exactly 2mg of sunscreen per cm2 of skin. But a 2018 study published in journal ActorDV found that most people apply less than 0.75mg. This poor application means many people don't get all the protective benefits they should. If in doubt, go for a higher SPF than what you think you need to compensate. Better safe than sorry.
There you have it.
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