Sun Protection: What do the different terms mean?

If you think choosing any old sunscreen will do the trick then you haven’t been paying attention. With so many acronyms and numbers slapped on the side of a tiny bottle, shopping for a sunscreen or sunblock can be a daunting task. As your first line of defense against premature aging, having a basic understanding of sun protection is as vital as applying it.

Sun Protection Rating (SPF)

You are probably most familiar with this term and use it to determine the choice of your sun protection. SPFs typically start from a rate of SPF15 and can climb up to SPF100. Theoretically, the higher the SPF, the better the sunscreen, but it does not necessarily mean that it offers better protection. SPF only determines how long your sunscreen can protect you. The higher the number, the longer you can stay in the sun without getting burned.

The plus (+) signs that usually accompany an SPF rating are a standard of measurement used by Japanese manufacturers called the Protection Grade of UVA (PA) system. The more the plus signs, the more protection from UVA rays.

UVA and UVB

There are two types of ultraviolet rays that penetrate the ozone layer and can harm our skin. UVB rays are short ultraviolet rays that only reach the superficial levels of your skin and are the cause for sunburns.

UVA rays on the other hand are long ultraviolet rays that go deep into your dermis layer and cause premature aging. The best sunscreens will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreens or Sunblocks?

While most may use these two interchangeably, both of them are completely different. Sunblocks are physical sun protections that use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to prevent your skin from absorbing the harmful rays.

Chemical protections, or sunscreens, contain ingredients such as oxybenzone and avobenzone that work with your skin on a celluar level to absorb UV rays turn them harmless. Chemical sunscreens tend to be thinner, therefore are more wearable everyday.

So now armed with these, the next time you go shopping for sunscreen, you’ll be more equipped to make the right decision!

Amanda Lim

Photos: Getty Images

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