The sun protection factor (SPF) is an indication of the effectiveness of sunscreens. It indicates how long the sunscreen can protect you from the harmful effects of UV rays, compared to the time you can stay in the sun without sunscreen before your skin begins to burn.
The higher the SPF, the longer you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. For example, an SPF of 30 means you can stay in the sun 30 times longer than without sunscreen. It's important to note that SPF only indicates protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburn. UVA rays, which cause skin aging and skin cancer, are not covered by SPF. Therefore, it's important to choose a sunscreen that also provides UVA protection.
Of course, all Comfort Zone sunscreens contain UVA and UVB protection.
It's also important to note that SPF isn't linear. An SPF of 30 doesn't offer twice as much protection as an SPF of 15. In fact, an SPF of 30 offers about 97% protection against UVB rays, while an SPF of 15 only offers about 93% protection. As a general rule, apply at least two full tablespoons of SPF and reapply regularly. This is especially important for dark spots. There's no such thing as 100% UV protection in a cream, gel, or lotion.
If you mix SPF 15 and SPF 20, this mixture will NOT result in SPF 35, but will result in approximately SPF 17.
It's also important to note that SPF is only a rough estimate and depends on many factors, such as the amount of sunscreen applied, the type of activity, and sweating. Therefore, it's important to apply sunscreen regularly and generously, as well as stay in the shade, to protect your skin from damage.
Cornelia Groth
Beautician with federal professional certificate, oncological beautician, international CIDESCO examination expert
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