# spf 50? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 5, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946 "2008-06-05T22:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@Greta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greta)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/1 "2008-06-05T22:38:39Z")
Been checking out sunscreens lately. Now I see them with spf 50. Is this redundant? No one can stay in the sun that long. Are they more effective? Really, even if it took you 10 minutes to burn, they would protect you for 9 hours, as long as the sun is actually out in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/2 "2008-06-06T00:24:15Z")
[QUOTE=Greta] Been checking out sunscreens lately. Now I see them with spf 50. Is this redundant? No one can stay in the sun that long. Are they more effective? Really, even if it took you 10 minutes to burn, they would protect you for 9 hours, as long as the sun is actually out in the summer. [/QUOTE] Where do you live? I’m in southern Canada, and the sun right now (close to the longest day of the year) rises at 4:51 AM and sets at 9:10 PM, making 16 hours of daylight. And no scoffing about not needing sunscreen in Canada either, it frequently gets to 35-40 degrees C here in the summer. Mind you, I think you have to keep reapplying sunscreen anyway, as it wears off, especially if you’re swimming, so it may not stay applied for hours and hours anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/3 "2008-06-06T00:30:43Z")
SPF 50 user here. I live in Stuart, FL, formerly Miami, FL. The south Florida sun in the summer is brutal. I’m very fair skin and don’t tan well. I burn, peel, and go back to white. SPF 50 saves my life. SPF…it protects people from **Ultraviolet**. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/4 "2008-06-06T00:32:42Z")
[QUOTE=Ultraviolet] Where do you live? I’m in southern Canada, and the sun right now (close to the longest day of the year) rises at 4:51 AM and sets at 9:10 PM, making 16 hours of daylight. And no scoffing about not needing sunscreen in Canada either, it frequently gets to 35-40 degrees C here in the summer. Mind you, I think you have to keep reapplying sunscreen anyway, as it wears off, especially if you’re swimming, so it may not stay applied for hours and hours anyway. [/QUOTE] Did you post in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=470286)? I love these username/thread topic things. ETA Gah, **Flander** beat me to it. But only because I had to go dig up the thread link! 🙂 EETA matter of fact, ima go post there right now. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/5 "2008-06-06T00:35:13Z")
I was told by a pharmacist that anything over 15 was useless. Later I heard anything over 30. I get sun poisoning so I don’t take chances and will use the most SPF as I can find on the shelf. It usually is rated SPFLatexPaint or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/6 "2008-06-06T00:40:04Z")
Too funny! I didn’t even think of my username when I posted here. Honestly, I’m not hazardous to your health! 🆒 (sunburned smiley) ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/7 "2008-06-06T00:47:46Z")
I really hope that the SPF 50 isn’t a hoax, 'cause here in Colorado the sun can turn me pink in 5 minutes, and give me a sunburn in 15. A friend of mine found SPF 80 recently. I hope it works - I’m going to the People’s Fair Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/8 "2008-06-06T00:59:08Z")
I’m another Doper that burns easily, I _don’t_ tan, I burn, last weekend, I was out mowing the lawn, and forgot to put on my sunblock at first, after 10 minutes, I could see a vestigal burn starting, so I went in, found some SPF 45 put it on, and was safe I must be part Vampire, I burn so easily (I’m in southeastern Maine, and at least for me, the sun has always been brutal) Bleh!, BLEH! ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/9 "2008-06-06T01:10:25Z")
[QUOTE=Kolga] I really hope that the SPF 50 isn’t a hoax, 'cause here in Colorado the sun can turn me pink in 5 minutes, and give me a sunburn in 15. A friend of mine found SPF 80 recently. I hope it works - I’m going to the People’s Fair Saturday. [/QUOTE] Is it the fair people’s fair? ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/10 "2008-06-06T02:06:17Z")
I’m another burns-at-the-slightest-hint-of-sun type. The other day I walked into town, about a 45-minute walk, around 11 AM, and I missed the back of my shoulders (note to self: decide what shirt to wear _before_ applying sunscreen). In less than an hour, I burned so badly on the unprotected areas I’ve got small blisters. People with skin as pale and sun-phobic as mine really have no business living at a high altitude. ---
**Author:** ![Sine\_Nomine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sine_nomine/32/513_2.png) [@Sine\_Nomine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sine_Nomine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/11 "2008-06-06T02:10:30Z")
Latitude plays a huge role… you mention that the sun is only out 9 hours in the summer where you are. In Minnesota, where I am, it’s out 15+ hours. So if you’re shopping for sunscreen at a national/international chain store, you’re going to see them selling higher SPF sunscreens to accommodate us freaks. It also depends on whether you are trying to prevent a burn or a tan. If you want a tan, you’d be better off sticking to SPF 15. Me, I hate the way I look with a tan, so I use SPF 50. I was so glad I did at my friend’s lakeside birthday soirée last year. Everyone else was lobster-red, while I remained the same shade I was going in. The others were jealous. 😛 (I should note that I am very, very pale. Strangers even comment on it… sometimes in a complimentary manner, so I don’t mind.) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/12 "2008-06-06T02:30:47Z")
So getting too high an SPF number may prevent a tan? I have a somewhat dark complexion, and tan really well…so if I go in for suncreen, I really don’t want to stay too pale. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/13 "2008-06-06T02:47:08Z")
If you’re active you need to reapply frequently. I try to reapply every 2-3 hours when hiking since I just sweat it off; even the waterproof kind. You shouldn’t expect any sun protection to last 9 hours with a single application. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/14 "2008-06-06T02:57:45Z")
Where in the world is the sun out only 9 hours in the summer? In the tropics, the sun is out for 12 hours.\* In the arctic the sun is out for 24 hours. The southern hemisphere gets less sunlight currently, but it’s winter there. \*All year round. ---
**Author:** ![Greta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@Greta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greta)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/15 "2008-06-06T03:30:02Z")
Okay, I messed up. Obviously I had calculated the hours its out in winter. I guess I am lucky I don’t burn that quickly. After a point, wouldn’t it jsut be best to use opaque? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/16 "2008-06-06T06:08:00Z")
[This](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=150782&catid=12101&trx=CRT-PLST&trxp1=17008&trxp2=150782) is the sunscreen I use all summer here in Las Vegas. It’s 60+ but I just call it my “lead spread” sunscreen. I work outdoors an can be on job sites with little to no shade for 8-12 hours a day. I rarely get a burn and when I do, it’s because I didn’t reapply partway through the day (from being sweaty and wiping my face and arms with a damp towel/kerchief), but I do get a really nice even (farmers) tan by the end of summer. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/17 "2008-06-06T09:26:28Z")
[QUOTE=Greta] I guess I am lucky I don’t burn that quickly. After a point, wouldn’t it jsut be best to use opaque? 😉 [/QUOTE] Yes. I usually use an SPF 70 sunscreen when I go on my weekend rides (3-8 hours), but as often as not I simply wear a long-sleeve shirt. I may try attaching a bandanna to my helmet to guard the back of my neck this summer. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/18 "2008-06-06T11:00:20Z")
[skin cancer is no laughing matter.](http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_What_You_Need_To_Know_About_Skin_Cancer.asp) SPF 30 is only 5% or so better than SPF15, but I cannot find the cite that backs me up. Anything over 30 is really maybe 1 -4% higher in protection. All sunscreen should be reapplied frequently. I am fair skinned, blue eyed, reddish hair and I am maniacal about re-application: every two hours minimum. Just because I live in The Frozen North just south of Canukistania in America’s [High Five](http://www.cafepress.com/buy/michigan/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_14272228/opt_/fpt_/c_666/) doesn’t mean I go outside without a) sunscreen on daily even in winter long sleeves and 3. A hat. I am the only one out of maybe 60 year olds that does this. I am viewed as a NutJob and I don’t care. Pasty white is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/19 "2008-06-06T11:09:20Z")
If I may give some product suggestion: a product to **avoid** are the continuous spray sunscreens. I have bought one and a) it is sticky on the skin…like fly paper sticky b) the freakin’ nozzle gets gummed up by the gunk with every attempt at doing a limb. I did my forearm and was able to do one pass with the spray, essentially a row, before it gunked up. It took me 10 minutes to ungunk it before I was able to do another pass and it gunked up again. I kept on trying various methods ( toothpick, pin, toothbrush) and the only thing that was marginally successful was letting it soak in a cup full of near boiling hot water. Try that technique when you are at a ballfeild or at the beach. Since the ingredients are all the same, I cannot imagine any of the makes of this being successful in application. It was a total waste of $10. I prefer No-Ad (best bang for your buck.)or Ocean Potion ( which smells like a creamsicle…mmmmmmmmmm.) ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946/20 "2008-06-06T11:32:30Z")
I treasure my spf 30. My nice tan belies my my blue eyed blonde haired skin so white you can see the blue veins like a road map Canadian childhood. But no more sun, please. I swab the corpse in the gringo paint for extended excursions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spf-50/451946.md?page=2)