There are so many sunscreens available, many labelled with confusing information so it’s easy just to reach for the one that looks like it has the highest protection. SPF 50 is higher 30 and 40, so that’s better right?……. Take a read and see what you think.
First, let’s understand Ultraviolet rays and their effects
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun play a significant role in our environment and have both beneficial and harmful effects on our health. While moderate sun exposure is essential for vitamin D synthesis, excessive exposure can lead to skin damage and other health issues.
UVA rays have the longest wavelength and can penetrate deeper into the skin layers.
Effects: They are primarily responsible for skin aging, causing wrinkles and age spots. UVA rays can also contribute to skin cancer and are prevalent throughout the day and year-round.
UVB rays have a shorter wavelength than UVA and are partially absorbed by the ozone layer.
Effects: They are the main cause of sunburn and play a significant role in the development of skin cancer. UVB intensity varies with the season, location, and time of day, being strongest between 10am and 4pm during the summer months.
UVC rays have the shortest wavelength and are the most dangerous.
Effects: Fortunately, UVC rays are completely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and currently do not reach the ground, therefore they do not pose a risk
Effects of unprotected, excessive exposure UV rays on the skin and overall health:
Skin Cancer: Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
Premature Aging: UVA rays accelerate skin aging by breaking down collagen and elastin fibres, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
Sunburn: UVB rays are primarily responsible for sunburn, an inflammatory response to DNA damage in skin cells.
Eye Damage: UV exposure can lead to cataracts and other eye conditions, including macular degeneration.
Immune System Suppression: Excessive UV radiation can impair the skin’s immune response, reducing its ability to fight off certain diseases.
So back to the original question, for skin protection SPF 50 is higher 30 and 40, so that’s better right?
Not always!
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) in short, is a measure of the length of time your skin can last without burning.
For example, if you burn within one minute of standing in the sun, apply SPF 10 and you’ll be able to stay in the sun for 10 minutes without burning. SPF 30 = 30 minutes and so on, but in fact the between them is quite minimal.
SPF 30 blocks out 96.7% of UVB radiation
SPF 40 blocks out 97.5%
SPF 50 blocks 98%.
SPF IS important but not the only factor to think about when choosing a sunscreen, UVB rays can damage skin health, but they are only around on very sunny days and make up only 5% of the UV rays that reach the earth’s surface.
The negative effects of the sun’s rays we listed above also come from UVA, often referred to as the ageing ray, they travel through clouds and glass, and they’re present 365 days a year. These long light waves penetrate to the deep layers of skin causing collagen and elastin degradation. Lines, wrinkles, discolouration… the works. SPF doesn’t relate to the ability to protect against UVA.
This is where Broad-spectrum sunscreen come in, designed to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, while the SPF rating will indicate the level of protection against UVB rays, broad-spectrum coverage ensures that your skin is also shielded from UVA rays.
Active ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide & avobenzone in your sunscreen
will offer broad-spectrum protection.
Types of SPF products
There are two main filters used in SPF products – chemical and physical.
Chemical sunscreens contain active ingredients that penetrate the outer layers of the skin and form a protective film. The active ingredients are designed to absorb specific wavelengths of UV radiation, these absorb the energy from the UV rays before they can penetrate deeper into the skin.
Once the UV radiation is absorbed by the chemical sunscreen, it undergoes a chemical reaction where the UV energy is converted into heat.
This heat is then dissipated from the skin, preventing the UV radiation from causing sunburn and other types of skin damage.
Physical sunscreens, sometimes called mineral sunscreens, contain active ingredients that sit on the surface of the skin and physically block UV rays.
When you apply physical sunscreen, it forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface. Unlike chemical sunscreens, physical sunscreens do not need to be absorbed into the skin to be effective.
The active ingredients work by reflecting and scattering UV radiation away from the skin. This prevents the UV rays from penetrating the skin and causing damage.
Wow, so much information! Thankfully our skincare therapists have got this, book a complimentary skin consultation or speak to the team on your next visit and they will help choose the right SPF product for you.
Did you know, AlumierMD, chose to formulate with physical sunscreens only, specifically, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide so they protect against both UVA & UVB.
Each of their sunscreens offer high-performance daily protection by going beyond the science of skin defence They also contain power antioxidants, vitamin C and super hydrators sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid, so not only do they protect against SPF they protect against other environmental factors and hydrate your skin all at the same time – genius !
