With non-melanoma skin cancer being the most common type of cancer in America, it is more important than ever to know everything there is to know about sun protection. The best way to protect your skin is to stay indoors or cover yourself in the shade, but that's an unreasonable expectation. Hence, the invention of sunscreen. Although sunscreen is great to ward off harmful rays, it's very difficult to know what's in it, how it helps prevent sun damage, and what kind of sunscreen to use.
One of the biggest things to pay attention to when buying sunscreen is obviously SPF, or sun protection factor, which measures sunscreen's ability to protect UVB rays from damaging the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, everyone should wear at least SPF 30 on a day-to-day basis. This means that it would take 30 times longer for skin to burn than it would without sunscreen, which is generally adequate for little sun exposure. However, the AAD recommends that SPF 50 be worn when participating in outdoor activities where sun exposure levels are higher.
While the AAD does not recommend different SPF levels for various skin tones, not everyone has the same opinion. As with every heavily debated topic, different experts have differing opinions. If you're not down with the idea of wearing SPF 30, this chart from Ocean Potion may help with your decision on which type of SPF to apply.
Remember: SPF only protects against UVB rays, so finding a sunscreen that protects against UVA rays as well is crucial—like the Wetforce Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ for Face/Body ($40, Sephora). After all, we only get the skin we have and we need to take care of it to live long, healthy lives.
