Skin type and SPF

It is necessary to use the right sunscreen not only in summer but all year round. Choosing the right sunscreen with the right protection index must be done according to our skin phototype, skin type, age, time of exposure to the sun and whether it is the first days of exposure to the sun.

An additional criterion for the selection is any medication that someone may be following.

The SPF protection index indicates the degree of protection provided by the sunscreen against UVB radiation. Without the use of sunscreen our exposure to the sun is safe from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the phototype of our skin. Multiplying the SPF of the sunscreen by our personal unprotected sun exposure time gives the total time we can safely be in the sun. If, for example, our skin naturally reddens after 20' exposure to the sun without sunscreen, by using a sunscreen with an SPF 10 index, the skin will redden after 20*10=200 minutes.

Regarding UVA radiation, the evaluation of the protection of a sunscreen is done by laboratory measurement in vitro, which calculates the protection index in function of the SPF index. The index used to measure UVA protection must be at least 1/3 of the SPF.

Skin type and SPF

Type1: Very sensitive skin: Fair skin, transparent with freckles and red or blonde hair—> SPF 50+

Type2: Very sensitive skin. Always blushes before it tans: Fair skin and blonde hair—> SPF 50+

Type3: Mildly sensitive skin. Always tans, often blushes before tanning: Fair skin without freckles and light brown hair—> SPF 30

Type4: Moderately sensitive skin. Tans easily and lasts, rarely reddens and burns: Light brown skin and dark brown hair—> SPF 30 then SPF 20

Type5: Very sensitive skin. Tans easily, rarely burns: Dark skin, dark hair—> SPF 20 then SPF 15

Type6: Durable leather. He never gets a burn. Black skin—> SPF 15

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