Don’t Skip the SPF: Dermatologist Shares Summer Sun Safety Tips
If you forgot to put on sunscreen before heading outside today, consider this a reminder. You’ll want to make sure you’re using the right SPF to protect yourself from harmful UV rays, especially since summer 2024 is coming off the back of the hottest year on record.
What SPF should you use? protection factoror sun protection factor, describes the amount of solar energy needed to cause a sunburn on protected skin compared to unprotected skin, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It would logically follow that wearing a higher SPF will give you better protection when you’re outside enjoying the sun’s rays.
Is a higher SPF sunscreen more protective in any measurable way that really matters? The tested difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is small, according to Dr. Steven Daveluy, a board-certified dermatologist and program director in the Department of Dermatology at Wayne State University. A difference of 96.7% blocking versus 98% blocking, in one example he gave. Research on people wearing sunscreen in “real life” has suggested that higher SPFs are more protective, Daveluy said in an email.
Combine that with the fact that you’re probably not wearing enough sunscreen (research shows that people only use 25% to 50% of the amount they should), Daveluy says, and a higher SPF can provide significantly better protection.
“If you’re wearing shorts and a T-shirt, you should use about 30ml of sunscreen to cover your head, neck, arms and legs,” Daveluy advises. However, hairless people should use a little more.
“That means you only need to use a 3-ounce tube of sunscreen three times,” Daveluy said. “Most people don’t use that amount.”
Read more: Best sunscreen for face
How much SPF does a sunscreen need?
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends your sunscreen should be SPF 30 or higher. It also recommends that you look for a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection (it protects against UVA and UVB rays) and make sure it is water-resistant.
“If you’re following the recommendations for the right amount of sunscreen, SPF 30 is great,” Daveluy said. If you feel like skimping on the layers, a higher SPF may offer more benefit. He added that in general, he recommends looking at at least SPF 50 or 60.
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Does skin tone play a role in choosing an SPF?
People with darker skin tones have more melanin, which provides some protection from the sun’s harmful rays. For this reason, skin cancer rates in people of color are lower than the rates in white people, but the risk is not zero. Research also suggests that people of color increased risk of missed or late diagnosis of skin cancermaking the outcomes more dangerous. (It is also important to note that melanoma can have causes other than sunlight or UV exposure, and can appear in areas that are not normally exposed to the sun.)
“SPF 30 is the minimum for everyone,” Daveluy said, adding that tinted sunscreens work better on darker skin tones, leaving less of a white cast.
“If you have very fair skin, the higher [SPF] “It might be a good idea to use the numbers, especially if you’re not using the right amount. You’ll see the consequences of underuse more quickly,” Daveluy said.
Are there any warning signs for sunscreen or SPF?
As long as you’re using at least SPF 30, applying it correctly, and also looking for products that are broad-spectrum and water-resistant, you’ll have the basics covered. Daveluy added that for those with sensitive skin, a mineral sunscreen with “active ingredients of zinc and/or titanium” can be a good choice.
Daveluy pointed out other measures to protect yourself from the sun, including wearing a wide-brimmed hat, protective clothing and staying in the shade as much as possible. But remember that sunscreen has a decades-old safety record, he said.
“The biggest warning signs for sunscreen are people or reports claiming that sunscreen is not safe,” Daveluy said.
Read more: Are you using enough sunscreen?
