Posted on April 20, 2012
So, for those of you taking my quiz, the SPF you should wear is….
30.
The guidelines used to be less, but it turns out we tend to be stingy in how much sunscreen we put on, we don’t reapply it enough, we sweat it off, and other things. So it is better to put on SPF 30 or higher. Should you buy SPF 60? 90? infinity? Higher SPF isn’t necessarily better–you need to follow directions. Apply enough (generously coat all exposed skin), often enough (reapply every 2 hours), and before you go outside (20 minutes before you go out into the sun).
Pearls from the dermatology guidelines:
SUNSCREEN:
- Covers UVA and UVB
- SPF 30 or higher
- Water resistance good
- This does not negate the need to seek shade, wear protective hats and clothing (go surf shirts!), and avoid peak sun hours.
See my prior blogs on sunscreen here. I still am a fan of the micronized clear zinc sunscreens.