What is SPF?

What is SPF? This is the response I get a lot when I ask during a skin consultation ‘Do you wear SPF?’

It stands for sun protection factor.

There are so many people who still reply with only when the sun is out!

So with all this gorgeous weather we have been having I am sure you are reaching for your suncream more than usual which is great but are you doing so enough?

The truth is, SPF isn’t just for holidays or hot weather and here is why. The sun emits two main rays, UVB and UVA.

This lorry driver had 28 years of UV exposure to one side of his face more than the other

UVB rays (these are ones responsible for tanning and burning, think UVBurning). These rays hit the surface of the skin and trigger the tanning response which is when your skin produces melanin to protect itself from UV.

UVA rays (the ones responsible for ageing, think UVAging) are present all year round, even on cloudy days, and will get to your skin even through windows and glass. Below is an image of a man who spent 28 years as a lorry driver and had daily UVA exposure to one side of his face.

So things like pigmentation, fine lines, and changes in your skin over time aren’t always about age or genetics… they’re often down to daily, unprotected skin and damage from UVA. It will go deep into the skin and damage the cells DNA in the dermis.

SPF is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin long term, and it supports everything else you’re doing, from skincare to treatments. I always say there is no point spending money on these things if you are not applying protection daily as part of your skin routine because every time you go out the UVA is damaging your skin. It is like one step forward, two steps back.

When you are choosing your daily SPF, chose one that you don’t mind wearing, chose one designed for the face so that it doesn’t cause breakouts, or feel too greasy or not sit right underneath make up. Ensure it is a broad spectrum SPF meaning that it protects from both UVA & UVB. Antioxidants are another way to boost protection, and also don’t forget to reapply if you are out and about during the day every couple of hours is ideal and even more so if you have been active. This is why the top of the head, upper cheeks and nose ‘catch the sun’ more, because these are the areas we perspire from most or get rubbed off quicker. Reapply, reapply, reapply, don’t grab a higher factor and think you are sorted.

And whilst I am doing my education speech 😉 ‘no SPF in your moisturiser doesn’t count’ and, ‘no SPF in your make up definitely doesn’t cut it!’

Reasons: The amount of SPF in your moisturiser will not give you guaranteed coverage, how do you know it has complete even distribution within that cream? Similarly for makeup, plus you would not apply a large enough dollop of foundation needed for adequate sun protection else you would be caked in it (I feel a reel idea has been born here, keep eyes peeled for that one 😂 ).

If you would like to find a suncream that works better for you come and try one of our recommendations or come ask us about how to better protect skin.

Book an appointment