Blog Entry

Sunscreen: What SPF do you need?

The number one question we get in the summer time is what SPF sunscreen you need to use and how often should you reapply. Today, we will answer these questions and also make some general recommendations.

• In general, sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater should suffice.
• Sunscreen with an SPF above 30 only provides minimal additional protection but can cause the sunscreen to feel chalky. Because of this, we advise patients that the best sunscreen is the one that feels good on their skin as long as it is SPF 30 or above.
• Some worry about sunscreen causing cancer so because of this we recommend physical blockers instead of chemical. Physical blockers block the harmful rays while the chemical blockers absorb them. The two ingredients that you should look for in a physical sunscreen are titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours but more frequently if you are getting in and out of the water since a towel will rub off the sunscreen.
• Most importantly, enjoy your time in the sun and continue to use sunscreen to limit skin damage and sunburns this summer!

Thursday April 30, 2020