SPF is a common indicator that we see over a manifold of skincare products, from eye creams to day creams to holistic sun protection formulations. While we understand its usage in this day and age is to battle the relentless rays of the sun, what does SPF exactly stand for? Allow us to break down the essential ingredient that frames one of your daily used products in your skin regimen, the sunscreen.
What does SPF mean?
SPF is actually a measure that calculates the efficacy of the product in protecting your skin from getting sunburnt. The SPF full form is sun protection factor, for this exact reason. Theoretically, if a product is labelled as SPF 30, then it means that it allows less blockage from UVB rays than a standard SPF 50+. Such is the simple distinction.
It is also essential to note that no sunscreen can block all of the UV rays’ effect on the skin, and common measures like 50 and 30 only block around 98% to 96.7%, respectively. Hence, it is always recommended to choose an SPF formulation that suits your needs and anticipated heat exposure to be best protected from the sun.
That said, simply applying a big dollop of sunscreen will not provide ultimate blockage from the sun’s rays throughout the day. In real life, factors like sweating, swimming, uneven application, as well as touching your face incessantly, can reduce its efficacy over time. Hence, dermatologists often encourage reapplication of sunscreen every two hours to boost its prowess and safeguard your skin.
How Does SPF Help Ease Pigmentation on the Skin?
Our skin is quite resilient, protecting us against countless diseases and inflammatory factors. One of which is UV radiation. However, in the process of doing so, it induces an overproduction of melanin to counter the inflammation as an immune response, often resulting in hyperpigmentation on face. This condition can lead to common concerns, such as sunspots, PIH, melasma and age spots.
Here are some of the key benefits of SPF for your skin pigmentation:
- Mitigates UV damage on the skin by reducing inflammation, which is a common trigger for melanin production.
- SPF also helps prevent the existing pigmentation from worsening and also allows for a gradual reduction in dark spots.
- Sun protection can help combat photoaging, which may include pigmentation, loss of skin, elasticity, and more.
- Including a SPF-rich formulation in your skincare routine can boost the efficacy of active ingredients, such as vitamin C, retinoids, thiamidol, etc.
How to Maximize the Benefits of your Sunscreen?
Below are some tips that you may imbibe to reap the benefits of your sun protection:
- Look for a sun protection product which offers a broad-spectrum formula and covers both UVA and UVB related stressors.
- Apply ample sun protection daily, especially 15 minutes before stepping into the sun, making sure you reapply every two hours for best results.
- If mineral sunscreens leave a white cast on your skin, you can also look for tinted sunscreen, which can also act as a base for your makeup application.
- For some, reapplication can be a difficult process, especially if you spend extended hours outside facing the heat with sweat and grime. This is when formulations such as sprays and sticks can be a big help.
Conclusion
Through this blog, we understood the term “SPF” in detail and how leveraging it can help safeguard your skin from sunburn and skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation. So, go ahead and get yourself a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sun protection, practicing daily application. This will help ensure that your other skin treatments work more efficiently and boost your skin health and complexion.