What is Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen?
Sunscreen is rated by its spectrum of protection against the UV rays that cause skin cancer: UVA, UVB, and UVC. These 3 are the world’s most harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
UVC rays are the most powerful and dangerous and can cause cancer, but they rarely make it through Earth’s atmosphere. The other two types of UV rays are what we deal with daily.
UVA rays cause wrinkles, sunburns, and skin cancer. They penetrate deeper into your skin than UVB rays do, making them more likely to cause DNA damage that leads to cancer. This type can pass through windows and glass.
UVB rays cause sunburns, tanning and increase your risk of skin cancer. UVA and UVB rays are capable of causing skin cancer, but only UVB causes tanning.
Many sunscreens only protect against UVB rays which cause sunburns. If you buy sunblock frequently, it could take hours to choose the right one. The sunscreen industry has so many brands, ingredients, and formulations that it’s challenging to decide which product is best for you.
Types of Sunscreens
There are 3 main types of sun creams, including Chemical, Physical, and Natural/Organic, as follows:
Chemical Sunscreens
Chemical sunblock use chemicals to protect against the sun’s UV rays commonly found in lotions, sprays, and creams. The negatives of this sunscreen type include an increased risk of burns, which can cause skin cancer, and a higher chance of allergic reactions. The positives are that they’re less expensive than other types of sun lotions and work quickly.
Physical Sunscreens
The second type is physical, which uses minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to protect against the sun’s UV rays. These minerals block the sun’s rays from entering your skin while allowing your body to breathe. The negatives of this type include a greasy feeling that can make it difficult to wear makeup over it.
Also, it has a higher chance of allergic reactions than other types of sunscreens. The positives are that it doesn’t irritate most people’s skin and works well for sensitive skin types or those with chemical sunscreens problems.
Natural/Organic Sunscreens
The third type is natural/organic, which uses oils like coconut oil or shea butter as their active ingredients instead of chemicals or minerals like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. This type doesn’t have preservatives and doesn’t rely on synthetic fragrant.
The biggest downside to this type is it’s more expensive than other types because it’s made with natural ingredients, and the oils can cause breakouts in some people.
While the final choice comes down to personal preference, there are two things you should never compromise on: an SPF of at least 15 and broad-spectrum protection.
If you’re going to be outside for a long time, invest in a water-resistant SPF 30 or greater sunscreen. While most people recognize the importance of SPF value, they may not realize that broad-spectrum protection is equally essential.
Note: Even with a high SPF (sun protection factor), if sunscreen isn’t a broad spectrum, you won’t be protected from all UVA rays.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against all three types of UV rays. So, what is broad-spectrum sunscreen, and why is it important? Keep reading to find out more.
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Broad spectrum sunscreens; FAQs
What is the difference between SPF and broad spectrum?
You know you should wear sunscreen daily, but what does SPF mean? It’s an acronym for “sun protection factor,” referring to how much UVB rays will penetrate your skin. Sunscreen with a higher SPF number means that it blocks more UVB rays.
But did you know there’s another factor to consider when choosing your sunscreen? The SPF rating only tells you how well a product blocks UVB rays. This means you don’t know how well it protects against UVA radiation without looking at its ingredients list, where you’ll find “broad-spectrum” designation.
Is broad-spectrum sunscreen better?
According to the American Dermatology Association (ADA) and Forbes, you should seek a sunscreen labeled “broad-spectrum.” This suggests it will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. The former causes premature aging, wrinkles, and age spots, while the latter results in sunburn.
What kind of sunscreen is broad spectrum?
Broad spectrum sunscreens contain several ingredients that help protect your skin from UVB and UVA rays. Broad spectrum sunscreen should combine zinc oxide, octinoxate, octisalate, and titanium dioxide. Different combinations of these ingredients will help protect your skin against both UVA and UVB rays for complete protection.
How do I know if sunscreen is a broad spectrum?
The phrase “broad spectrum” is the only way to tell whether your sunscreen protects against UVA rays. Only 34% of those polled said that “broad spectrum” labeling influenced their decision to buy sunscreen, but they are the two most essential words to look for on a label.
Is broad-spectrum sunscreen better?
Yes. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is better than regular sunscreen. There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both types of UV rays, while traditional sunscreens only protect against UVB rays. UVA rays can penetrate deeper into the skin and cause long-term damage to your skin, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburns.
Does broad-spectrum sunscreen prevent tanning?
Broad spectrum sunscreen does not prevent tanning. Instead, it protects you from sun damage, including skin cancer. Tanning is the result of UV exposure, which causes melanin to be released into your skin. This causes a darkening reaction that can lead to skin cancer and premature skin aging if left unchecked.
Sources:
Harmful effects of UV radiation
UVA rays pass through windows and glass
Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against all UV rays