# Why do low SPF number sunscreens exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237 "2010-06-07T03:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/21 "2010-06-08T01:02:26Z")
> [@Anise](#): > > I would save the jealousy. Unless a much higher level of protection is being used, this person is still sustaining permanent skin damage and premature aging, and is running an extremely high risk of skin cancer, with or without a visible burn. (And most people don’t bother with any sun protectant at all, even SPF 4.) _Everyone_ needs to use SPF 30-45, regardless of skin tone, even those with the darkest skin. The level of general misinformation about these issues is almost beyond belief. Pah. Not for short term exposure. In fact, you need some sun- with little or no sunscreen- to get Vitamin D. Currently, Vit D is the biggest deficiency in the USA due to people being over protective like this. Note that I have actually discussed my sun exposure with my personal MD, and he is happy with my moisterizing moderate 15 SPF for a couple hours a day in normal sunlight over the weekend. Now, all that is fully exposed is my arms and lower legs, I do wear a hat. And, I work in an office, far away from Mr Sun 40 hours a week. I do suggest all SDMB posted discuss this with their MD next physical, see what _your_ MD suggests for _your_ skin type, family history, area and daily exposure. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/22 "2010-06-08T01:24:22Z")
You can tell this is an American-centric board with people declaring ‘I can get by on SPF 8’. Don’t try that if you come to Australia, is all I’m saying. 😉 Interesting fact on the subject of SPF’s up until a couple of years ago, Australian regulations prevented any sunscreen from claiming an SPF any higher than 30, regardless of the actual effective number, so most sunscreens were labeled 30+. The only other SPF’s were as mentioned upthread the ‘Tanning Oils’ usually with coconut oil. It still amazes me that in the country with the highest skin cancer rate in the world, some people continue to bake themselves in the sun with those ‘tanning oils’ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/23 "2010-06-08T01:28:49Z")
> **[Health effects of sunlight exposure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risks_and_benefits_of_sun_exposure)** > > Exposing skin to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight has both positive and negative health effects. On the positive side, exposure allows for the synthesis of vitamin D3. Vitamin D has been suggested as having a wide range of positive health effects, which include strengthening bones and possibly inhibiting the growth of some cancers. A dietary supplement can also supply vitamin D, but there are also benefits to exposure not obtainable through Vitamin D supplementation. Long-term su On the n... _Exposing skin to sunlight presents both health risks and health benefits.[1] Sunlight is the major source of vitamin D-producing Ultraviolet B radiation, which has a wide range of positive health effects, including possibly inhibiting the growth of some cancers.[2] On the other hand, long-term sunlight exposure is known to be associated with the development of skin cancer, skin aging, immune suppression and eye diseases such as cataracts.[3] Sun exposure has also been associated with the timing of melatonin synthesis and reduced risk of seasonal affective disorder.[4] A number of public health organizations state that there needs to be a balance between the risks of having too much and the risks of having too little sunlight…_ ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/24 "2010-06-08T01:39:48Z")
I also want to bring up the possibility of allergies. I once got sunburnt using 30SPF and so I switched to 60. My face broke out in a rash. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/25 "2010-06-08T05:38:04Z")
For example when I went to see my Doc, we discussed the issue. He considered my family cancer history (nil), my skin color (brownish), the sun here in the San Jose area, where and when I’d be getting out etc. He did say I was exibiting some signs of sun damage to my left arm (driver side) so now I apply the SPF 15 to my arms also, not just my face and neck areas as before. So, do discuss this with your own Doctor, follow his advice. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/26 "2010-06-08T11:19:35Z")
I remember when I was a kid in the 80s, suncream came in factor 4 (“for tanned skin”), factor 8 (“medium protection”) and factor 15 (“maximum protection”). Oh, I think you could get factor 2 (“for shallow frying”) as well. Somewhere along the line, factor 15 has gone from being the ultra-strength product to being just about the lowest you can buy. I’m not sure how that happened - and I don’t recall getting burnt using factor 8 in the old days, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/27 "2010-06-09T04:14:47Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > You can tell this is an American-centric board with people declaring ‘I can get by on SPF 8’. > > Don’t try that if you come to Australia, is all I’m saying.’ My dad was stationed down there in 1942 with the US Army, he said he’d be more likely to mold than sunburn. Of course that was near Brisbane. He did say that the weather was much nicer than New Guinea, where he spent most of the rest of the war. My Dad was especially complimentary of the Australian people, he said no US Soldier in uniform could walk down a street without being invited in for tea numerous times- and sometime the “Yanks” accepted numerous times, if they could manage. He also said the only complaint was Southern state soldiers that could never get over the Aussie’s calling them “Yanks”! ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/28 "2010-06-09T05:04:59Z")
I’m trying out a new sunscreen with SPF’s of 100 and so far no rash. I used an SPF of 75 last year and broke out horribly. I only use a high SPF if I’m going to be outside for more than a half hour, otherwise my moisturizer with an SPF of 15 is okay for going to and from work. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/29 "2010-06-09T09:24:21Z")
I think most sunscreens will give you adequate protection against UVB rays, but not necessarily UVA rays. I also check the PPD ratings to see the level of UVA protection. Tanning carries no glamor for me; I want to prevent premature aging and to keep my skin wrinkle-free as long as possible. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/30 "2010-06-09T10:43:52Z")
I used a low-SPF sunscreen for the first week of a month-long tropical vacation after a year in a place that gets twelve hours of (dim) sunshine a month. I don’t usually burn, but a year in near darkness made me an unnatural shade of white. If I didn’t get some kind of base tan, I was sure to get a bad burn that would ruin my vacation no matter how vigilant I was. By slowly stepping up sun exposure, I was able to enjoy my vacation without having to freak out every time I stepped in the sun. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237/31 "2010-06-09T12:30:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My dad was stationed down there in 1942 with the US Army, he said he’d be more likely to mold than sunburn. Okay, but that was almost 70 years ago, when we didn’t know how much damage excess exposure to sun can cause. Also, Australia has the world’s highest skin cancer incidence rates([cite](http://www.skincancer.gov.au/internet/skincancer/publishing.nsf/Content/background-1)). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-low-spf-number-sunscreens-exist/542237.md?page=1)