Choosing the Right SPF Number for You

With so many sunscreen products on the market, choosing the right one for you may be difficult. This information will help you make an informed decision when choosing a sunscreen product.

The first thing to consider is how long you are going to be exposed to the sun. The longer you are in the sun or by a window, the higher the SPF number you should use. It is important to note that, normal glass blocks UVB rays, but allows damaging UVA rays through. Some modern windows block as much as 99.9% of UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreen products are meant to be applied liberally and reapplied every couple of hours or after sweating or swimming. If you are not planning to use a liberal amount of sunscreen, opt for the higher SPF number than you normally would to ensure that you are getting as much of the protective ingredients as possible on your skin.

If you are going to be swimming or perspiring heavily, choose a sunscreen that is labeled as “water resistant” or “very water resistant” and reapply frequently, especially after toweling off. Keep in mind that no sunscreen can be “water proof”, if you have a sunscreen product that is labeled as such; it was purchased before the new FDA labeling requirements went into effect in December of 2012 and it should not be trusted.

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