We Talked to 6 Derms and They All Agreed: This Common SPF Misconception Is Putting Your Skin at Risk
'Using sunscreen properly is what really keeps your skin safe,' explains Ellen Marmur, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare. 'You should apply at least an SPF 30, apply it generously, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.'
There are tons of sunscreen myths out there—like not needing to wear SPF if it's cloudy or that sunscreen in your makeup is enough (both wrong)—but today we're diving into one of the most pervasive out there!
Related: 8 Spots You're Forgetting to Apply Sunscreen, According to Derms
Myth: If You Wear a High SPF, You Don't Need as Much
One of the biggest sunscreen myths is that if you apply a higher SPF—like a 50, 75, or even 100—you don't need to apply as much or as often. This is not the case, and failing to reapply enough every two hours will inevitably hurt your skin. We surveyed six dermatologists about this, and here's exactly what they have to say.
Tanya Kormeili, MD, FAAD
'Do not be fooled to think that applying SPF 50 thinly might still give you about SPF 30-level protection. That is not true,' warns Tanya Kormeili, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Derm and Rejuvenation Institute. 'The trick to better protection beyond the choice of SPF number is in the proper and adequate amount that you use. If you don't have adequate protection, you are being irritated by UV rays. It is that simple.'
Related: Black Skin Still Needs Sunscreen—Here's Why
Brooke Jeffy, MD, FAAD
'Higher SPF does not mean you can apply less or use less frequently. Think of it as a bit of a hedge against our natural tendency to not use or reapply adequately,' says Brooke Jeffy, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. When applied incorrectly, 'you do not get the level of coverage possible from the product and are more likely to experience burns and cumulative damage from radiation that leads to skin cancers, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.'
Kseniya Kobets, MD, FAAD
'Both SPF 15 and 100 will get rubbed off or sweated off, and the increased protection assumes immediate sunburn delivered, not over time as it naturally happens,' explains Kseniya Kobets, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care.
She adds, 'Obviously, applying inadequate amounts of SPF will deliver lower SPF than promised on the bottle, plus it will wear away faster than two hours, putting you at risk for painful blistering sunburn, damaging your skin cells' DNA that not only predisposes your skin to age prematurely, but also increases risk of skin cancers like melanoma (the deadlier one), basal cell, and squamous cell.'
Related: Does Sunscreen Prevent Tanning? Here's What a Dermatologist Has to Say
Alexandra Bowles, MD, FAAD
'High SPF sunscreens can offer slightly more UVB protection than SPF 30, but the difference isn't as dramatic as many people think,' notes Alexandra Bowles, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology. 'For example, SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks around 98%, a small difference that can create a false sense of security. What matters most is applying sunscreen generously and reapplying every two hours, no matter the SPF.'
Ellen Marmur, MD, FAAD
'SPF 30 already blocks most UV-B rays, so it's more important how you use sunscreen than the number on the bottle,' Dr. Marmur says. 'Go for the highest number SPF that you will genuinely use well enough to cover your skin. Now that formulations are more elegant, search for an SPF 50. It's best to use a lotion for your face, ears, neck, and a spray for your body and hands and feet and scalp.'
Nazanin Saedi, MD, FAAD
'I most commonly see SPF 30, 45 and. 50, and the difference is admittedly marginal. If you have fair skin that burns easily, melasma, rosacea, or a higher skin cancer risk, it's always best to choose the higher SPF level,' says board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, FAAD. 'But regardless of what level of SPF you choose, you must reapply every two hours for it to remain effective.'
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Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. (Full disclosure: I was prescribed a GLP-1 for a cluster of medical conditions: prediabetes, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.) I talked to two physicians who prescribe the meds, two well-known advice columnists and two dozen GLP-1 users for their take on the big etiquette questions on the table. Here's what I learned. - - - Is it okay to ask someone if they're taking a GLP-1 inhibitor? Two years ago, I reconnected with a former colleague who'd lost so much weight I barely recognized him. My first thought was, 'Did he have cancer' or 'Was something wrong?' Lucky me, he beat me to the punch by confiding that he'd been using Ozempic. While some of those on GLP-1 inhibitors say it doesn't bother them to be asked, Randy Jones, an author and podcast host, who is currently taking one, told me: 'I absolutely don't think people should be empowered to ask someone about their medications without an invitation to do so.' Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette guru Emily Post and co-president of the institute that bears her name, agrees, explaining the medications we take and the procedures we undergo are private. 'You don't walk up to a friend and ask if they're on Botox,' she says. Bottom line: Don't ask, mostly. (And it's probably a good idea to avoid speculating on social media about celebrities' mysterious weight loss, too. It's practically a sport for some people, but that doesn't make it okay.) - - - But I want to show I care. Isn't that a good reason? Not really. Context matters, and you may not have all the details to navigate that tricky conversation without being offensive. A friend of mine, a pastor who is in front of a large congregation every Sunday, lost 52 pounds in nine months. She says she's been asked by just about everybody at one point or another, how she lost weight. While she appreciates the well-wishers who say, 'You look great! Do you feel good?' she also would prefer that people didn't make that big a deal out of it. For example, some people seem compelled to comment on her body every time they see her. 'Are you buying a whole new wardrobe?' 'You've gotten so little.' That gets under her skin because 'I don't like having my body size be the most interesting thing about me in their eyes.' David Wiss, a registered dietitian nutritionist who is based in Los Angeles and counsels patients on issues of weight and mental health, says he recommends avoiding 'body talk' of any kind. 'Body sovereignty describes the freedom and autonomy to make choices about your own body and health,' he said. Carolyn Hax, the longtime Washington Post advice columnist, says that if you're just being nosy, there's no good way to ask. But if you've struggled with weight yourself or know someone well enough to believe you can ask without giving offense, frame your question that way. Otherwise, Hax suggests, 'If people look well, look happy, look great in that color, then by all means say that.' But don't comment on their bodies. Bottom line: As I've often said, if it's curiosity that's driving you, curb it. - - - How should I respond if someone asks me this question? Matt Hughes, a town commissioner in Hillsborough, North Carolina, told me he's hesitant to make the disclosure about using a GLP-1 because 'it's almost as if someone worked less hard to lose the weight,' he said. Even if that's not your intention, asking people if they are taking a GLP-1 might be mistaken for 'Ozempic shaming,' which is when people are criticized or judged for taking a drug to lose weight rather than relying on diet and exercise, even though lifestyle changes don't work for the vast majority of people. 'Weight stigma is deeply ingrained and almost unconscious,' said Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She reminded me that GLP-1s are treatments for medical conditions - just like those for high blood pressure, cancer or anything else - which can empower those to reply to intrusive queries by being direct, humorous or just deflecting the question. Some snappy responses I've heard include: - 'It's none of your business.' - 'I like to keep a little mystery.' - 'Who wants to know?' - And my personal favorite: 'My weight is really not that interesting.' 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Hax reminds people 'to be mindful of fairness and not hide behind expediency to get the 'sober dieting vegans' to cover their champagne and lobster.' She also suggests 'reading the room,' which means sometimes you can get separate checks, or take half of your meal home, and sometimes you just overpay, for the pleasure of everyone's company. Post also has some specific strategies, like telling friends you dine with regularly: 'Hey guys, I'm eating a lot less these days. Is it okay if I get my own check?' Or offer to use check-sharing apps like Billr or Divvy so that all diners pay what they owe. When I host, I've started asking guests not only if they have any food allergies or preferences, but also: 'Is there anything else I need to know in preparing dinner?' That allows room for someone to let me know either that they're on a GLP-1, or simply that they're only able to eat certain amounts or types of food these days. 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