Sunscreen - Do you know what SPF actually means?
by Indepth Skincare on 5 Oct 2015
InSunSports - sunscreen that won’t dissolve in water and won’t sting your eyes, and will give you long protection Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It’s meant to be easy to understand but it’s amazing how many people do not know how to apply it once they see it on a label. The bigger the number the better right? Read on …
Perhaps the best way to think about SPF is by simple example. A fair skinned person may well begin to burn in midday sun in just 10 minutes. If that person applies SPF 30 sunscreen that same skin will begin to burn in 10 X 30 minutes, 5 hours.
However that is meaningless if the screen does not stay effective – meaningless if the screen erodes or washes off the skin like many do. So just regularly re-apply the screen then?
Especially in a regatta a dinghy sailor can be on the water for several hours for each of a few days on end. It’s just not practical to re-apply out on the water. Ditto if you’re on the side of a keel boat. It’s just not a good look to go find your screen in the cabin somewhere. If you are committed top side and can’t just cover up, probably the best thing you can do is wear the best sunscreen you can find.
Sailors need long lasting screen that doesn’t dissolve in water so that the stated SPF actually means something after a number of hours out on the water … in other words the screen SPF remains effective at the stated number throughout the day. And choose a screen that you can happily apply to your forehead knowing it’s not going to sting your eyes.
Know your sun limits
You can estimate your own personal unprotected non burn time. Are you fair skinned? (then maybe … you burn in 10 minutes?) Check for published average “burn times” in summer weather reports. Do you tend to burn easily? (Err on the side of caution?) Have you been in the sun much lately? (if yes then perhaps you're conditioned and are above average burn-time?). Always estimate on the side of caution and use a long-lasting screen in a sun-smart way, e.g. wear long sleeves etc., for best protection and use a screen that also offers skin conditioning.
A person who is more ‘sun conditioned’ will normally have extra minutes non burn time with their unprotected skin in strong UV sun conditions. You do the sums for you.
So next time you look for sunscreen options - choose a screen to use that won’t erode from your skin. Use a screen that keeps on working at the stated SPF will then remain at that level whilst the screen is in place. No erosion equals long-lasting protection.
A combination of sun, sea and wind can create an extreme environment so it’s a bonus if the screen you use will help your skin stay moisturised – even long after sun. And if the screen is non greasy even just minutes from when it’s applied to wet or dry skin, this is a great performance enhancer – which will give you an edge, not just in the sun, but out on the Website
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