As one of the first lines of skin cancer prevention, sunscreen protects skin against carcinogenic ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The potency of sunscreen is measured with a standard called Sun Protection Factor (SPF). SPF is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect your skin from UV rays. These rays are the ones that can give you a sunburn and result in permanent skin conditions. Read on for our primer on what SPF means and where it came from. It takes a close look at the strict laboratory testing procedures that prove SPF claims.
SPF has been a well known term since the mid-1900s. It calculates how much UV radiation actually penetrates the skin once sunscreen is applied. Sunscreen labeled as SPF 50 still allows nearly 2 percent of UV rays to penetrate. That means it’s able to tackle 98 percent or more of those dangerous rays before they can ever touch your skin. By comparison, SPF 30 allows about 1/30th, or 3.3 percent of UV radiation to reach through it, blocking 96.7 percent. Given these figures, it is critical that consumers are educated on the significance of selecting an appropriate SPF to achieve optimal protection.
The testing process that goes into finding SPF is done with very controlled and regulated protocols to ensure precision. So, in short, a sunscreen that is SPF 50+ needs to demonstrate an SPF of 60 or higher in laboratory tests. This simply means it blocks at least 99 percent of UV rays.
The Testing Process
In order to accurately determine the SPF rating of sunscreens, testing laboratories use highly specific methodologies. One such expert in this field is John Staton, the scientific director at SciPharm, a prominent testing laboratory. He emphasizes just how exacting their testing process is.
“We wouldn’t get them to lay on their tummies out in the sun. We make sure that we’re using a controlled UV-wavelengths-only light source.” – John Staton
The implementation process starts with a test panel of ten testers. Flat areas of skin for example, on the backs of their catchers’ hands are outlined with sharpies beforehand to area with sunscreen should go. That’s why a very specific amount—2 milligrams of the material per square centimeter—are set to promote consistent testing between each type. This carefully controlled environment is very important for getting quality data.
These factors can make a significant impact on sunscreen performance, making standardized testing crucial.
“You’re dealing with human skin, and you’re dealing with individuals that vary substantially in their physical and skin properties.” – John Staton
Over the last few years, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of SPF testing practices. Princeton Consumer Research, a UK-based laboratory with a reputation for SPF claims testing, was the focus of tighter scrutiny by Australian sunscreen manufacturers. Accusations of improper testing practices have prompted these brands to end their relationships with the lab.
Concerns Over Testing Practices
Just ask Michael Traudt, former US SPF and sunscreen expert who has blown the whistle on these practices. He adds that differences between SPF ratings can be scary.
This declaration serves as a reminder that transparency and accuracy in SPF testing is critical to consumer trust and safety.
“It’s … such a rare occurrence you should buy a lottery ticket immediately if you get those results.” – Michael Traudt
Surprisingly, consumer advocacy groups are very much interested in these issues as well. Choice Share Consumer advocacy group, Choice, tested dozens of sunscreens themselves. Under these conditions, they found that 16 of the 20 products tested did not meet their claimed SPF50+ ratings. These findings are extremely concerning for the efficacy of sunscreen products currently on the market.
Improving the accuracy of SPF ratings is critical for consumer protection and public health. Sunscreen is an important part of keeping our skin healthy and beautiful. In addition, vitamin D protects against the development of skin cancers that can occur with UV exposure. When the truth is not communicated clearly, companies can mislead consumers into thinking that they are getting greater protection than they really are.
The Importance of Accurate SPF Ratings
With growing public demand for easy-to-understand sun safety measures comes an increasing need for trustworthy sunscreen products. This means that manufacturers can no longer skate by on lax voluntary testing guidelines. At the same time, consumers need to be vigilant and question product promises.
As public awareness about sun safety increases, so does the demand for reliable sunscreen products. It becomes imperative for manufacturers to adhere to rigorous testing standards and for consumers to remain vigilant about product claims.
