{"id":524520,"date":"2025-08-08T12:49:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/?p=524520"},"modified":"2025-08-08T12:49:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:49:59","slug":"things-to-know-before-choosing-your-sunscreen-what-those-letters-and-numbers-on-the-bottle-actually-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/en\/things-to-know-before-choosing-your-sunscreen-what-those-letters-and-numbers-on-the-bottle-actually-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Know Before Choosing Your Sunscreen: What Those Letters and Numbers on the Bottle Actually Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sunscreen labels often look like they\u2019re written in a language of their own. SPF here, UVA there, a couple of numbers, some stars\u2026 and you\u2019re left wondering whether that bottle will actually protect you or just leave you sunburnt. You\u2019re not alone. According to a survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, only 8% of people actually knew what the number next to SPF meant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to clear things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPF<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. But here\u2019s the catch: this number only measures protection against UVB<\/strong> rays\u2014the ones that burn your skin. It says nothing about UVA<\/strong> rays, which cause ageing, wrinkles, and can also lead to skin cancer. For UVA protection, check for stars or labels that say \u201cbroad spectrum\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UVB<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UVB rays are shortwave ultraviolet rays. They\u2019re the main culprits behind sunburn and one of the biggest enemies of healthy skin<\/strong>. They affect the outermost layers and are linked to skin cancer. Bottom line: better not to greet them at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UVA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UVA rays have a longer wavelength and penetrate deeper than UVB. They make up 95% of the solar radiation reaching us<\/strong>. These rays cause premature ageing and also increase the risk of skin cancer. A \u201cbroad spectrum\u201d sunscreen covers both UVA and UVB rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there are UVC<\/strong> rays\u2014the most dangerous kind\u2014but luckily, they don\u2019t reach the Earth\u2019s surface. If they did, we\u2019d have a much bigger problem.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The SPF Number<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The SPF number shows how much longer your skin can stay in the sun before burning, compared to no protection. SPF 50 means you could stay out 50 times longer without burning (though everyone\u2019s skin reacts differently).<\/p>\n\n\n\n