Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I see different numbers for SPF on sunscreens, I have sensitive skin. I am also suppose to buy one that is oil free-- recommended by my dermatologist, **Is there one that is for sensitive skin and oil free?** like Neutrogena?
However long it takes for your skin to burn without any sunscreen at all, is the "0" upon which the SPF is based.
So an SPF2 means, it'll take you twice as long to burn than if you had no sunscreen at all.
SPF30 is 30 times as long. But do the math:
If it takes you 10 minutes to burn, and you're using SPF 30, it means you can be out in the sun for 30x10 minutes, or, 300 minutes, before you burn. That's 5 hours. That's 5 hours, assuming you don't sweat, and assuming you don't go into the water. In the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, it's possible that you'll actually benefit from an SPF30. Anywhere there's humidity, not more than an hour's worth, two tops. So you'd have to reapply that SPF30 every hour or two, to get 5 hours worth of protection, IF you are the type who takes 10 minutes to burn, without any sunscreen at all.
Clearly impractical and while theoretically sound on paper, has no real significant use (outside of the desert).
If it takes you a half hour to burn with no sunscreen, it'd mean - 900 minutes of sun with SPF30. That's 15 hours. Unless you live near the north or south pole, you won't have much use for 15 hours worth of sunscreen, ever.
If you can find a nice oil-free SPF8 you should be fine. However, bear in mind that no sunscreen will prevent skin cancer. Only a sun-BLOCK will do that, or avoiding the sun completely.
The common sunscreen ingredients are PABA and octyl-methoxy-cinnimate. If you're trying to prevent sunburn, you'll also want to avoid any lotions containing citric acid or citrus oils; they cause photosensitivity.
Edited to add: if the product contains zinc oxide or zinc, then it is primarily a sun block, rather than a sunscreen (thought it might contain both).
Last edited by AnonChick; 07-31-2010 at 11:30 AM..
Reason: added blurb about zinc
Get a lotion...no "oil"....anything over SPF 30 is a waste of money! You must apply at least 1 oz (the size of a shotglass) 30 mins. before going in the sun, then reapply every couple of hours....especially if you're swimming or sweating and drying or wiping yourself with towels! It's not the water that will wash it off, it's the wiping!!!!
Stay out of the sun as much as you can, if you tend to burn! The further south you go, the stronger the sun's rays will be and the faster you will burn!
According to my dermatologist if you are worried about aging you should get spf 60.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
