If you forgot to put on sunscreen before you step outside today, consider this your reminder. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right SPF to protect yourself from harmful UV rays, especially as the summer of 2024 approaches the hottest year on record.
What SPF should you use? SPF, or sun protection factor, describes the amount of solar energy needed to get a sunburn on protected skin compared to unprotected skin, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. It would stand to reason, then, that wearing a higher SPF would offer you better protection when you’re out and about in the sun.
Is a sunscreen with a higher SPF more protective in a measurable way that actually matters? The tested difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is small, according to Stephen Davelloy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and program director at Wayne State University’s Department of Dermatology. A difference of 96.7% blocking versus 98% blocking, in one example he gave. A study of people using sunscreen in “real life” suggests that higher SPFs are more protective, Daveluy said in an email.
Combine that with the fact that you are probably not wearing enough sunscreen — studies show that people only apply 25 percent to 50 percent of the amount they should, Davelouis said — and a higher SPF can come off relatively more protective.
“You should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your head, neck, arms, and legs when you’re wearing shorts and a T-shirt,” Davelouis recommended, adding that people without hair should use a little more.
“That means your 3-ounce tube of sunscreen is just three applications,” Davellui said. “Most people don’t use that amount.”
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How much SPF do you need in sunscreen?
American Academy of Dermatology recommends your sunscreen is SPF 30 or higher. She also recommends looking for a sunscreen with broad spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays) and making sure it’s waterproof.
“If you follow the recommendations for the right amount of sunscreen, then SPF 30 is great,” Davelouis said. However, if you think you’re skimping on the layers, a higher SPF may offer more benefit. He added that he generally recommends looking for at least an SPF of 50 or 60.
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Does skin color matter when choosing an SPF?
People with darker skin tones have more melanin, which offers some protection from the sun’s harmful rays. For that reason, skin cancer rates in people of color are lower than levels in white people, but the risk is not zero. Research also suggests that people of color may be you are more likely to receive a missed or late diagnosis of skin cancer, making the results more dangerous. (It is also important to note that melanoma can have other causes other than exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays and may appear in areas not normally exposed to the sun.)
“SPF 30 is the minimum for everyone,” Daveluy said. He added that tinted sunscreens may be better suited to darker skin tones, leaving less of a white cast.
“If you have very fair skin, the higher [SPF] numbers can be a good idea, especially if you’re not using the right amount, because you’ll see the consequences of underuse more easily,” Davellui said.
Are there any sunscreen or SPF “red flags”?
As long as you wear a minimum of SPF 30, apply it properly, and also look for broad-spectrum and water-resistant products, you’ve got the basics covered. Daveluy added that for people with sensitive skin, finding a mineral sunscreen with “zinc and/or titanium active ingredients” can be a good choice.
Daveluy pointed out other sun protection measures, including wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sun-protective clothing and staying in the shade whenever possible. But remember, sunscreen has been proven safe for decades, he said.
“The biggest red flags about sunscreen are all the people or reports that try to tell you that sunscreen is not safe,” Davellui said.
Read more: Are you applying enough sunscreen?
