I have a confession to make. I used to be a “double-dipper.” Not in the sense that I’d re-dip my food after taking a bite, but in the tanning sense. I used to go to the tanning beds and then “double-dip” by following it up with a spray tan. It was the early 2000s, what can I say? But long gone are the days of spending my afternoons in a tanning bed. SPF is one of the most crucial products, if not the most important when it comes to taking care of your skin. When you’re young, you think you’re invincible, right? SPF is a lifelong journey, but there is a lot of wrong information out there regarding sunscreen.
Here are 5 SPF myths you shouldn’t fall for:
Darker skin tones don’t need SPF
If you are a BIPOC or have a darker complexion, you still need sunscreen every day. While you may be less susceptible to sunburn naturally, SPF still helps prevent sun damage and skin cancer. There are two different types of rays: UVA and UVB. UVB rays cause burning, while UVA rays cause aging and skin cancer. No matter your skin color, you still need to wear SPF daily.
The higher the SPF number the better
Remember those UVB rays I just mentioned? SPF only measures the sunburns we get from UVB exposure. A huge common misconception about SPF is that the number “doubles” the amount of protection from the SPF number before it. For example, most people think SPF 30 works twice as well as SPF 15. But in reality, SPF 15 blocks about 93 percent of UVB rays, while an SPF 30 blocks 97 percent and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. No sunscreen offers 100 percent protection. Try applying an SPF 15 or 30 for a regular day, and SPF 50 for beach days.
You only need to wear sunscreen in the summer
Have you noticed I’ve been saying “daily” when referring to your SPF application? Because SPF isn’t just for beach days and lounging by the pool. Everyone should wear some level of SPF daily in order to prevent unwanted skin damage and even potentially skin cancer. But UVA rays can reach you even through windows! Heck, even your phone and computer emit UV rays that can damage your skin with prolonged exposure. So no more arguments. SPF needs to be incorporated as the final step in your skincare routine no matter where you’re going and what the weather is.
I can’t wear sunscreen on my face because it makes me break out
Like I say to my 3-year-old when something doesn’t work out in his favor, “tough boogers.” But really, all sunscreens are not created equal. Some cheaper sunscreens can definitely be more oily and likely to clog your pores. The higher the quality ingredients, the better it is for your skin. And even if you’re incredibly sensitive, let’s be honest, clogged pores are easier to handle and reverse than dark sunspots or even skin cancer.
It’s cloudy, so I don’t need sunscreen
I hate to sound like a broken record here, but you need sunscreen no matter the weather. Clouds don’t block UVA rays, which are the rays that cause all of your skin damage. Sun ≠ level of harm, just the level of burning potential. Even then, you can still get sunburned on cloudy days, so lather up!
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main and featured image by Jennie Corti
