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Sunscreen or sunblock? Between the wide selection of sun protection products on the market, choosing the right product for you can be very confusing at times. Most people do not know that there is a clear difference between a sunscreen and a sunblock, and the benefits they contain. Here are some terms you need to know.
Broad Spectrum
There are two types of sunlight: UVA and UVB. The letter A in UVA means "Aging" (aging) and B in UVB means "Burning" (burning). Sunscreens containing UVB have been more popular since ancient times, but what you really need is a sun protection product that says "Broad Spectrum", meaning that the sun protection product has protective features from both UV rays A and B.
SPF
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF in a sun protection product will tell you how well the product is at protecting your skin from sunburn. The SPF number determines how long you can stay in the sun without getting burned while using the product. So, if it usually takes you about 15 minutes for your skin to start sunburn without any protection, and you are using SPF 10, the product will extend your time up to 10 times longer before burning, or 15 × 10 minutes = 150 minutes aka 2.5 hours. If your skin usually gets sunburned within 10 minutes if you don't use a protective cream, and you use SPF 30, then this cream will protect you from sun exposure for 300 minutes. Etc.
The higher the SPF number does not indicate how strong the protection provided by the product. SPF10 protects you from the hot sun as well as SPF15 or SPF50 though. A high SPF level will block more UVB, but does not provide 100% protection against the risk of skin burns. However, products with a high SPF are able to provide better protection from the risk of long-term skin damage, such as skin cancer.
The lower the SPF level, you will need to re-apply it more often to increase the time you are out in the hot sun without worrying about getting burned.
Keep in mind that sun protection products, be they sunscreen or sunblock, wash off easily, leaving parts of your body vulnerable to UV rays. Applying sun protection unevenly or not frequently enough can reduce its effectiveness. Regardless of the SPF level of the product you are using, reuse it evenly either after the time period is up, or as soon as you are done swimming or sweating.
Then, what is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock?
There are two types of sun protection products, chemical and physical. Each has a different function and way of working to protect your skin.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen, or sunscreen, is a liquid chemical lotion that acts as a sun filter. The sunscreen lotion gets into the skin and will absorb UV radiation before it reaches your skin layers and damages it. However, there will still be some sunlight absorbed by the body. The texture of the sunscreen is thinner and will appear invisible to the eye when applied.
Sunblock
Sunblocks contain minerals such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which build up a layer on top of the skin's surface, acting as a barrier against the sun's rays. The texture of the sunblock lotion is thicker, milky white, and can be seen clearly by the eye. Sunblocks are the best recommendation for protection if you have long hours of activity in the sun, such as swimming or playing on the beach.
Whichever product you choose, it is important to choose the SPF level that is best for you. Experts recommend using sun protection that has waterproof features with an SPF range of 30 to 60. In addition, make sure every product you use contains UVA-blocking ingredients such as: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, ecamsule, and oxybenzone.
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