Even though it鈥檚 officially been summer for only a few days, the Texas summer sun has been blazing for a while now, and good sun protection is on plenty of folks鈥� minds.
That protection comes in many forms: Hats, UV blocking long-sleeved shirts, sunglasses and good ol鈥� sunscreen.
But how to choose a sunscreen? There are many types, and differences go beyond SPF ratings. Trisha Calvo, deputy editor for health and food at Consumer Reports, joined the Standard to help us .
How do SPF ratings work? What鈥檚 the difference in protection between, for example, an SPF 50 and an SPF 100?
SPF 鈥� sun protection factor 鈥� is a measure of how well a sunscreen measures against one type of the sun鈥檚 rays: UVB rays, which are primarily responsible for sunburn and can contribute to cancer risk.
The higher the number, the more protection, Calvo says 鈥� but it may not be as much protection as you think.
鈥淎n SPF 30, for example, doesn鈥檛 block twice as many rays as an SPF 15,鈥� she said. 鈥淎n SPF 15 blocks 93% of the UVB rays, and an SPF 30 blocks 97%. So after that, the percentage increases are much smaller, and not even an SPF 100 blocks all the UVB rays.鈥�
When choosing SPF, it鈥檚 important to remember that most people don鈥檛 use sunscreen perfectly, Calvo said.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e talking about these levels of protection, it鈥檚 under like what it should be under lab conditions,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o how much you apply and how often you reapply can reduce the SPF.鈥�
Consumer Reports suggests using at least an SPF 30, preferably an SPF 50, 鈥渨hich will help account for some of lack of application skills maybe some people have,鈥� she said.
Calvo also recommends choosing sunscreen labeled 鈥渂road spectrum,鈥� which protects against not just UVB rays but also UVA rays that contribute to skin cancer and skin aging.
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What鈥檚 the difference between mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens?
Mineral sunscreens contain only titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both as the active ingredient, Calvo said. They work by sitting on top of your skin and deflecting the sun鈥檚 rays.
Chemical sunscreens contain active ingredients like avobenzone, homosalate and octocrylene. They work by absorbing the sun鈥檚 energy and converting it to heat, and then the heat is dissipated, Calvo said.
鈥淏ut in Consumer Reports鈥� tests over the years, we鈥檝e never found a mineral sunscreen that came in at the top of our ratings, meaning that we鈥檝e never found one that has really good protection against either UVA or UVB rays,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome protect well against one type rather than another type.鈥�
What鈥檚 the latest guidance on the safety of using chemical sunscreen that gets absorbed into the skin?
Calvo stressed that using sunscreen on exposed skin is the best way to prevent skin cancer.
鈥淭hat being said, the FDA a couple of years ago asked sunscreen manufacturers for more information on the safety of the chemical sunscreens. That鈥檚 still in flux, and there are some unanswered questions,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey can be absorbed through the skin and the bloodstream, but it鈥檚 really important to know that the FDA, the American Academy of Dermatology, and many, many researchers and doctors say that this does not mean the chemical ingredients are unsafe, nor does it mean that you should stop using them.
鈥淭he known benefits of sunscreen in protecting your skin and reducing the risk of skin cancer outweigh theoretical risks of chemicals or other ingredients.鈥�
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Sunscreen lotion, stick or spray 鈥� what鈥檚 the best choice?
Overall, Calvo recommends using the form you like best, 鈥渂ecause that means that you鈥檙e going to use the sunscreen, which is really the most important thing.鈥�
That being said, it can be hard to see how much coverage you鈥檙e getting with a spray, and a lot can blow away on a windy day, she said. There鈥檚 also a potential for inhalation, especially with children 鈥� so Consumer Reports recommends lotion for kids.
鈥淚f you must use a spray, have the child turn their head, close their eyes, and hold their breath for a few seconds while you apply it, and no one should spray their face,鈥� she said.
Calvo noted that sticks are good for touch-up areas, particularly those that are often skipped 鈥� like ears, the tops of cheekbones, and hair parts 鈥� but not the best for covering big areas.
鈥淎ll in all, you know, if you don鈥檛 mind or don鈥檛 care which type you use, a lotion is probably going to give you better protection,鈥� she said.
What should shoppers keep in mind when looking for facial sunscreens?
Facial sunscreens use the same UV filtering ingredients as other sunscreens, and are subject to the same FDA requirements, Calvo said. The difference is that facial sunscreens tend to be formulated to be lightweight and to absorb quickly.
Some are designed for different skin types 鈥� like oily or sensitive skin, for example 鈥� but that varies by brand or specific product.
鈥淵ou really just need to try them out and find the one that feels best for you,鈥� Calvo said. 鈥淏ut you don鈥檛 have to use a face sunscreen on your face. You can use a body sunscreen on your face. Many are lightweight, too. So it really is just a matter of personal preference.鈥�
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