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Taking care of our skin means understanding how sunscreen works, especially those with higher SPFs like SPF 50 and beyond.
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SPF 50+++ Effectiveness
SPF, aka Sun Protection Factor, measures how well sunscreen shields us from UVB rays, the pesky ones responsible for sunburn and some pretty nasty skin issues, including cancer. SPF 50 blocks about 98% of UVB rays, which is not a huge bump from SPF 30 (97%) but every bit helps, right?
| SPF Level | UVB Radiation Blocked (%) |
|---|---|
| SPF 15 | 93% |
| SPF 30 | 97% |
| SPF 50 | 98% |
| SPF 100 | 99% |
Thinking about these numbers, you can see that while higher SPF gives more protection, it’s a small jump. The real secret sauce is in applying sunscreen properly. As the smart folks at MD Anderson point out, slathering it on evenly and using enough is key. So, no skimping!
Duration of SPF 50+++ Protection
Even if you’re armed with the finest sunscreen, timing’s everything. To get the full power of what’s on the bottle, make sure you’re laying it on thick and slapping on some more every couple of hours. Sweat, pools, or even your clothes can wash away your protection, turning you into a hot mess. The Australian Academy of Science gives a shout-out that using sunscreen wrong can cut down its magic.
Your mileage may vary depending on how active you are, where you’re at, or even how your skin behaves. Dive in the water or break a sweat jogging, and you might find yourself needing to reapply sooner. It’s part of the game if you want to keep that cool SPF 50+ shield up strong—keeping 98% of UV rays at bay is pretty sweet compared to SPF 30+ at 96%.
To keep your skin looking and feeling ace, don’t just stick to sunscreen. Think about how quitting smoking might do wonders for your skin or whether moisturizers are making you oily (spoiler alert: sometimes, yes). Knowing about sunscreens and diving into skin health helps us keep our skin in top shape.
