We all know that it is often difficult to find accurate information.
Even with good intentions, it is easy to present information that is true, but misleading.
WARNING : In this capsule, we discuss how sunscreen works. The most important thing to understand is that you need to apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30, and that 2 hours after applying it, you need to reapply it!
You may have already seen this infographic:
Of course, the information presented is not false, but it seems to paint a somewhat distorted picture in favor of FPS 30 screens :
- The difference in protection is only 1%
- The texture of SPF 50 is more unpleasant
- SPF 50 gives a false sense of protection
To begin with, the information comes from a reliable source ( skincancer.org ), but the article cited is not indicated, which makes the process of verifying the information a bit complex.
For reference, we took the time to find the article that appears to be cited:
https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/
With the article in hand, the picture is a little more complete. Here's what we noticed when comparing the infographic and the article:
1️⃣ We have no idea what SPF is and how it relates to the protection percentage presented in the infographic .
The sun protection factor (SPF) tells us how long it will take for UV rays to cause a sunburn compared to the time it would take without sunscreen.
FPS 30 = 30 times more time
FPS 50 = 50 times more time
2️⃣ A screen with SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays while a sunscreen with SPF 50 blocks 98%.
In reality, a screen with SPF 30 allows about 3% of UVB rays to reach the skin while a screen with SPF 50 allows about 2% of the rays to reach the skin.
Although this difference seems small (1%), this increase represents more than 50% more UVB rays.
3️⃣ SPF 50 gives consumers a false sense of security.
Indeed, a high SPF gives consumers a false sense of security, but this is caused by a perception that encourages riskier behavior.
This is not because the sunscreen is less effective than advertised.
In reality, this statement should not be used as an argument in favor of SPF 30 sunscreens, but rather should be used as an argument for the proper use of sunscreens.
What SPF do I use then?
The sunscreen you use should be at least SPF 30.
The important thing to remember is that in addition to using an adequate screen, you must also employ an adequate sun protection strategy:- Limit your exposure to the sun ☀️
- Use a hat 🧢
- Reapply every two hours 🕑
- Etc.
You should choose a monitor that will increase the chances of using it properly, rather than just choosing one with a high FPS.
So the infographic above isn't entirely wrong, but it seems to omit some details that we think are particularly important in helping people make an informed decision.