How to choose a Sunscreen? Know which SPF is best-UVA, UVB, PA+++!

It is almost summertime, and the sun is shining bright. While you should use sunscreen lotions and cream every day of the year, it is more important to use sunscreens during the summer months. During the summer season, the days are longer, the sun is harsh, and it is inevitable to spend more time outdoors. Using the best sunscreens lotion is very important, and one should not ignore it. But the question is how to choose the right sunscreen. It is advisable to choose the best sunscreen for everyday use and make it a part of your overall skincare regime to get the best results. So if you are looking for the best sunscreen for the face or the best sunscreen for everyday use, look no further. Stop wondering how to choose sunscreen for Indian skin and choose the best sunscreen for men or the best sunscreen for women. Our guide will help you make you choose the best sunscreen for everyday use. 

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What are Sunscreens?

Sunscreen, also known as sunblock, is a lotion spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun’s ultraviolet  (UV) radiation and thus helps protect against sunburns. Proper & consistent use of sunscreen lotion and creams can also slow down or prevent the development of wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin, skin darkening or tanning.

What are the types of Sunscreen Lotions and Creams

There are mainly two types of sunscreens :

Topical Sunscreens: 

Topical sunscreens are applied externally on the exposed skin to prevent sun damage.

Oral Sunscreens: 

Oral Sunscreens are the newest trend in the world of sun protection. Some dermatologists, cosmetologists, and skincare experts advise using oral sunscreens in combination with topical sunscreens for the best results. Oral sunscreens are oral supplements that claim to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Oral Sunscreens provide your skin with maximum sun protection when used in conjunction with topical sunscreen. However, it does not replace the need for topical sunscreen lotion and creams. Topical sunscreen is still your first line of defence against harmful UV rays. Oral Sunscreens are available over the counter easily, online and in-stores. Most Oral sunscreens also provide antioxidant benefits.

Please consult a skincare expert, dermatologist or cosmetologist for choosing the best oral sunscreen for yourself. However, there is a word of caution regarding the usage of oral sunscreens as per the FDA. The FDA thinks that if people believe that the pills will protect them from the sun, they may be less inclined to apply a topical sunscreen. And if people are not wearing sunscreen while being exposed to the sun’s rays, they are not truly protected from the sun. “There is no pill or capsule that can replace your sunscreen”, as per FDA. 

Who needs Sunscreen?

Everyone needs sunscreen. Sunscreen cream and lotion use can help prevent skin cancer by protecting you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race. 

How to choose a Sunscreen?

Read on below to know how to choose the best sunscreen lotion and best sunscreen for the face:

What Sunscreen Lotion or Cream shall you use? How to choose a Sunscreen?

It is advisable to use sunscreen that offers the following:

• Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays both)
• SPF 30 or higher
• Water resistance

When to apply Sunscreen, How much to Apply & How often to Apply?

• Apply enough sunscreen cream and lotion to cover all skin that clothing will not cover (apply to all exposed parts you want to protect like hands, feet, neck ears etc)
• Lips are prone to darkening and sun damage too. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm, or lip cream with SPF 30 or higher. 
• Sunscreens lotion should be applied at least 30 minutes before the sun exposure. These 30 minutes give the cream to set in and create a shield on the skin to prevent sun damage.
• Reapply the sunscreen every two hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days. It also means reapplying the sunscreen after swimming or sweating as per the directions on the bottle. 
• Sunscreen lotion for the body should also be applied when inside the house as UV rays also permeate through windows and doors and may cause damage to the skin. It is especially advisable for people with more sensitive skin types. 
• Please note that snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays. So application of sunscreen at such an environment becomes all the more important.

Which SPF is Best? What is SPF and its importance?

• SPF (Sun Protection Factor) refers to the ability of a sunscreen to shield your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It is a measure of the time it would take for a person to start getting red if he /she was not wearing sunscreen. The SPF is a rating of how well the sunscreen blocks the sun. 
• The higher the number, the better it works at blocking UVB rays. 

Is a high-number SPF better than a low-number one?

• Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 per cent of the sun’s UVB rays (as per the American Academy of Dermatology)
• A higher number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block 100 per cent of the sun’s UVB rays. An 80 SPF sunscreen, for example, does not let someone stay outside longer than a 15 SPF sunscreen. The 80 SPF only blocks more rays while the person is out in the sun. 
• It is also important to remember that high-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs. A high-number SPF does not allow you to spend additional time outdoors without reapplication. 

Which SPF is best?

• Dermatologists recommend a minimum of SPF 30 as the most common level for most people and skin types. No sunscreen can block all UV rays, but what we do know is: SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. 

Can someone use low SPF like SPF 15? 

Darker skin types may not sunburn easily as compared to those with fair skin due to higher melanin content in their skin. Hence darker skin types can use lower-level SPF sunscreen like SPF15. But they are still at risk of skin damage from sun exposure. Hence a minimum of SPF 30 is recommended for all skin types as a general thumb rule. 

What are broad-spectrum sunscreens? What is UVA/UVB?

• Sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays that reach the earth — UVA rays and UVB rays. Overexposure to either can lead to skin cancer. 
• UVA rays (or ageing rays) can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots, and can pass through window glass. PA+ Rating System represents blocking UVA rays.
• UVB rays (or burning rays) are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass. SPF represents the blocking of UVB rays.
• Broad Spectrum Sunscreen contains protection against both UVA and UVB says. 

What is the PA + rating on sunscreen?

Today most sunscreens include PA+ ratings on their products. PA is a rating system developed in Japan to represent how much UVA protection the product offers. The sun’s UVA rays do not cause sunburn; rather, they cause the skin to turn brown and tanned. UVA rays are known as silent killers because you don’t feel them affecting the skin. Despite the lack of pain associated with UVA rays, they penetrate deeply into the skin, causing a somewhat different type of damage than UVB rays.

This is what each PA rating means:

• PA+ = Some UVA protection.
• PA++ = Moderate UVA protection. 
• PA+++ = High UVA protection.
• PA++++ = Extremely High UVA protection.

Other ways to protect skin from sun damage apart from Sunscreen?

Since sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you, one needs to take the following steps to protect your skin

• Try to seek shade:  Whenever possible, try to look out for shades and avoid direct sun exposure. Always remember sun rays are strongest between 10 AM to 2 PM. 
• Wear clothes to cover maximum body parts: Try to wear clothes to protect the majority of your body parts to avoid direct sun exposure. If possible, wear full sleeve shirts, caps & hats, and pants instead of shorts. Do not forget to protect your eyes by wearing high-quality sunglasses. 
• Take extra caution near water, snow and sand: Water, snow, and sand reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which in turn increase your chances of sunburn.
• Eat Vitamin D: As a part of your healthy diet and nutrition regime, include Vitamin D supplements in your diet. Don’t forget to source vitamin D from natural diet sources like fish, eggs, mutton, orange juice, soy milk, cheese etc. 
• Avoid tanning with the direct sun: You are fair and love a little tan right? But this can be damaging to the skin. Try to avoid getting tanned under the direct sun even with SPF on. Try using self-tanning products with added sunscreen. 

What type of Sunscreen should you select based on functionality?

• Use Sunscreen which offers broad spectrum (UVA & UVB) protection
• Use Sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 or higher for UVB protection
• Use Sunscreen which have PA+ rating or higher like PA++, PA+++, PA++++ for UVA protection
• Use Sunscreen which is water and sweat resistant to help them to be more effective

What type of sunscreen to choose based on your skin type?

Dry Skin: Use Cream-based Sunscreen to add an extra layer of moisturiser. Any sunscreen enriched with moisturizing ingredients such as ceramides, glycerine, hyaluronic acid, and honey is ideal.

Oily Skin: Use Gel-based or water-based sunscreen with a matte finish. Look for ingredients such as green tea, tea tree oil, or niacinamide in your sunscreen as they can also help you to control oil production. 

Combination or Normal Skin: If you have a normal skin type, you don’t have much to worry about while choosing the right sunscreen. Organic, inorganic, gel-based or cream-based all will suit you. Feel free to choose as per your preference. 

Sensitive Skin: If you have a sensitive skin type there are several ingredients you’ll want to avoid when shopping for sunscreen. These ingredients could cause a reaction and include alcohol, fragrances, oxybenzone, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), salicylates, and cinnamates. Aim for a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as it is your safest bet and is advisable because it’s less likely to cause negative skin reactions.  It is best to consult your dermatologist for the best sunscreen for sensitive skin types.

Acne-Prone Skin: Just like for sensitive skin, it’s always best to avoid using any sunscreen with ingredients that might aggravate inflammation that already exists. Therefore, mineral sunscreen is, again, your safest bet if you have acne-prone skin. Since many people with acne often have an issue with excessive sebum production, products for oily skin or sensitive skin are the perfect match. Try to opt for something that’s less likely to cause irritation in a lightweight, water-based formulation.

How to choose a Sunscreen based on availability?

• Cream-Based Sunscreens: As already discussed above
• Gel-Based Sunscreens: As already discussed above
• Stick Sunscreens: These are good for use around the eyes
• Spray Sunscreen: Use spray sunscreen for full body application near beach areas or to add convenience while applying sunscreen. Word of caution is to not inhale these products or apply near heat, open flame or while smoking.
• Mineral Based: As discussed above

Disclaimer: This article gives you an overview of sunscreen lotion and creams, their types and how to choose them correctly as per your skin type. This article represents the author’s wisdom based on his personal experience and interactions with his dermatologists, cosmetologists, skin experts & aesthetician over a period of time. Please consult your Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, Skin Care Expert, Doctor, GP, or aesthetician for assessing which sunscreen lotion is best suited to your needs based on your skin type & sensitivity, duration of sun exposure, medical conditions, drug interactions (for oral sunscreens) etc.