Home / Sun Protection Information Center / Effectiveness of Sunscreens Effectiveness of Sunscreens  By themselves, sunscreens might not be effective in protecting you from the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. However, sunscreen use is an important part of your sun protection program. Used properly, certain sunscreens help protect your skin from some of the sun’s damaging UV radiation. But according to recent surveys, most people are confused about the proper use and effectiveness of sunscreens.How do Sunscreens Work? Sunscreens protect your skin by absorbing and/or reflecting UVA and UVB rays. The FDA requires that all sunscreens contain a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) label. The SPF reveals the relative amount of sunburn protection that a sunscreen can provide an average user when correctly used. SPF ratings, however, apply mainly to UVB rays only. Sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 are widely recommended. SPF’s of 30 or above are usually advisable for sun-sensitive individuals, skin cancer patients, and people at high risk of developing skin cancer. You should be aware that an SPF of 30 is not twice as protective as an SPF of 15; rather, when properly used, an SPF of 15 protects the skin from 93 percent of UVB radiation, and an SPF 30 sunscreen provides 97 percent protection.
Broad Spectrum Sunscreens Broad Spectrum Sunscreens are highly recommended. While the SPF ratings found on sunscreen packages apply mainly to UVB rays, “Broad Spectrum Sunscreen” indicates that a product shields against UVA as well as UVB. It does not guarantee protection against all UVA wavelengths, however. Most broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do a good job against UVB and short UVA rays; if they also contain avobenzone (Parsol 1789), zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide, they should be effective against the entire UVA spectrum. All of these ingredients have been approved by the FDA.
• For tips on the correct way to apply sunscreen, see “Proper Use of Sunscreens” in Suntego’s Sun Protection Information Center. Is Sunscreen Fail-Safe? Using sunscreen does not mean it is safe to spend more time in the sun, especially when the UV Index is high. Although a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher offers protection from sunburn, it does not block all of the sun’s damaging rays. In fact, there is little evidence that sunscreens protect you from malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, even though sunburns have been linked with the development of melanoma.2 To fully protect yourself, remember to seek shade, minimize peak hours of sun exposure, and wear protective clothing in addition to applying sunscreen.
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