SPF 30 vs SPF 50: What's the real difference in sun protection?
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is made up of two main types of rays that can damage your skin.
UVB rays cause sunburn and UVA rays penetrate deeper and lead to skin aging, wrinkles and long-term damage.
The SPF, or sun protection factor, mainly measures UVB protection. It indicates how much longer it would take for your skin to burn compared to if you weren't wearing any sunscreen at all.
For example, with SPF 30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you had no sunscreen on at all.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays while SPF 50 blocks about 98%.
While the difference may seem small, the Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 allows 50% more UV radiation to reach your skin than SPF 50, which can make a big difference if you're in the sun for a long period of time.
But even when using a higher SPF, extra precautions should still be taken. The Skin Cancer Foundation stresses the importance of:
Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure
Reapplying every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating
Wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses
For those who are at high risk of skin cancer, SPF 50 may not even be enough. In these cases, layering protection and seeking shade when possible becomes even more crucial.
For any extended outdoor activity, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Air Quality Health Advisory issued for NYC, Long Island
NEW YORK (PIX11) — An Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued for the New York City Metro regions and Long Island from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. Individuals with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including asthma, should limit strenuous physical activity outdoors. Children and the elderly are also urged to take precautions. More Local News The Air Quality Index value is expected to climb above 100 due to ozone. A heat advisory has also been issued as high heat and humidity are set to return. The advisory runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. as daytime temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s. During periods of extreme heat, cooling centers will open throughout New York, providing spaces with air conditioning. For more cooling centers, click here or contact 311. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Americans Advised To Avoid the Sun in 16 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Americans in at least 16 states could see heightened levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on Friday, according to a forecast published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Why It Matters The EPA cautions that elevated UV radiation levels can increase the risk of skin burns, eye damage and long-term health problems such as skin cancer. What To Know The UV index ranges from 1 to 11. The levels, and their corresponding advice, are: 1-2: Low (minimal risk from UV rays for the average person) Wear sunglasses on bright days. In winter, snow can reflect UV rays and nearly double exposure. Use SPF 15+ sunscreen if you burn easily. 3-5: Moderate (moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure) Cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses. Use SPF 15+ sunscreen. Stay in the shade near midday when the sun is strongest. 6-7: High (high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure) Seek shade during the midday hours. Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and SPF 15+ sunscreen. 8-10: Very High (very high risk of harm; sun protection is essential) Take extra precautions, including wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves. Minimize exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware: white sand and similar surfaces reflect UV rays and increase exposure. 11+: Extreme (extreme risk of harm) Try to avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reapply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours. Seek shade, wear full coverage, and use sun protection. An EPA forecast map shows which areas could see the highest UV levels on Friday. An EPA forecast map shows which areas could see the highest UV levels on Friday. Environmental Protection Agency According to the EPA's UV index forecast for solar noon—when the sun is at its highest point in the sky—parts of the following states could see levels of at least 11 on Friday. California Nevada Utah Wyoming Arizona Colorado New Mexico Texas Oklahoma Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Georgia Florida North Carolina South Carolina What People Are Saying Antony Young, emeritus professor of experimental photobiology and dermatology at King's College, London, previously told Newsweek: "The UV index [UVI] is a measure of the sunburning power of higher the UVI, the shorter the time you need in the sun to burn." Richard Weller, a professor of medical dermatology at the University of Edinburgh, previously told Newsweek that sunlight can cause photoaging, the premature aging of the skin as a result of prolonged and repeated exposure to UV radiation. "Sunburn is a risk factor for melanoma skin cancer, which is the most serious of the skin cancers." What Happens Next Each day, the UV index forecast map is created using data provided by the National Weather Service, the EPA says.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
What to Expect From Cooper Companies' Q3 2025 Earnings Report
San Ramon, California-based The Cooper Companies, Inc. (COO) develops, manufactures, and markets contact lens wearers. Valued at a market cap of $14.8 billion, the company also focuses on family and women's health care, providing fertility products and services, medical devices, contraception, and cryostorage to health care professionals and patients. It is scheduled to announce its fiscal Q3 earnings for 2025 after the market closes on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Before this event, analysts project this vision and women's healthcare company to report a profit of $1.06 per share, up 10.4% from $0.96 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has met or surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the last four quarters. Its earnings of $0.96 per share in the previous quarter outpaced the consensus estimates by 3.2%. More News from Barchart UnitedHealth Stock Spirals Lower Again. Don't Buy the Dip. This Self-Driving Car Stock Is Surging on a Major Nvidia Boost Auto Revenue Keeps Plunging at Tesla. Should You Buy the TSLA Stock Dip or Run Far Away? Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! For the full year, analysts expect COO to report EPS of $4.06, up 10% from $3.69 per share in fiscal 2024. Furthermore, its EPS is expected to grow 9.9% year-over-year to $4.46 in fiscal 2026. Shares of COO have declined 19.8% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 17.3% uptick and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLV) 9.4% drop over the same time frame. Despite delivering better-than-expected Q2 results on May 29, shares of COO plunged 14.6% in the following trading session. Due to growth in both of its reportable segments, the company's overall revenue improved 6.3% year-over-year to $1 billion, exceeding consensus expectations. Moreover, its adjusted EPS of $0.96 advanced 12.9% from the year-ago quarter, topping analyst estimates by 3.2%. Wall Street analysts are moderately optimistic about COO's stock, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 15 analysts covering the stock, 10 recommend "Strong Buy," one indicates a "Moderate Buy," and four advise 'Hold.' The mean price target for COO is $92.93, implying a 25.9% premium from the current levels. On the date of publication, Neharika Jain did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
