ALL ABOUT: Understanding the Protection Values of a Korean Sunscreen - Episode 1 : What is SPF.

The protection index of SPF is a crucial factor in choosing a sunscreen. 

In fact, sun exposure is a common factor in daily life and even more so during the summer because the sun can be dangerous to our skin.

Sunscreen is very important to prevent UV damage and prevent the risk of skin cancer. However, not all sunscreens are the same and choosing a sun protection factor (SPF) is not always easy. 

In this post, we will explain how to calculate the spf and sun protection index so that you can choose the sunscreen that best suits your needs.

What is SPF?

SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor, a measure of a sunscreen product’s ability to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UVB rays. 

The SPF index is always followed by a number. The number associated with SPF indicates the level of protection: the higher the number, the greater the protection.

SPF is one of two ways in which we can express the value of effective sun protection in concert with PA+++. 

We want to remind you that the acronyms SPF and PA+++ express the protective power of sunscreen against bad sun radiation, and they do so for UVA and UVB rays, respectively. 

However, although the degree of sunscreen is very important, there will always be one thing that is more and more crucial: that is, making sure to wear sunscreen every day to protect your skin from sun damage, thus avoiding worse consequences. 

UVA and UVBs: Why Is Solar Radiation Dangerous?

The ultimate goal of sunscreen is to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Exposure to UV radiation can lead to DNA damage in skin cells, and this damage can lead to skin cancer

There are three types of ultraviolet radiation.

• UVA rays: This type of radiation penetrates deep into the skin and can lead to premature skin aging and cancer.  In addition, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and play a greater role in premature skin aging changes, including the formation of wrinkles (photoaging). UVA rays in sunlight are about 500 times higher than UVB rays.
• UVB Rays: This type of radiation is responsible for the change in skin color after spending time outdoors: tanning or sunburn is a direct result of UVB rays, as they penetrate the epidermis. UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburn. UVB rays also play the most important role in causing skin cancer, including the very dangerous and deadly skin cancer that is malignant melanoma.
• UVC Rays: This type of radiation is completely absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere and does not reach the skin.

SPF AND PA +++: The Two Faces Of Sun Protection.

As we have written in several guides and articles, the ultimate goal of sunscreen is to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. 

SPF and PA are one way to express sun protection. SPF indicates the level of protection from UVB rays while PA indicates the level of protection from UVA rays.

The Sun Protection Factor SPF: What It Means and How UVB Protection is Calculated.

As we have already mentioned, The Sun Protection Factor (SPF), or sun protection factor, indicates the amount of UVB solar radiation a product can filter out to prevent skin damage.

In fact, erythema is the biological marker used to define the extent of this damage and thus the effectiveness of sunscreen.

The first few minutes after SPF application can indicate the amount of solar radiation filtered by the product. 

The definitive parameter can be obtained by multiplying the dose needed to cause erythema by the SPF number.

For example, a product with SPF 50 provides fifty times more protection than exposure without protection. 

An SPF 50 filters out 1/50th of the sun’s radiation, which equals about 2%, while blocking 98%. An SPF 30 about 97 percent.

However, this calculation should also consider the photostability of the sunscreens in the products, as this factor affects the effectiveness of sunscreen over time. 

Poorly photostable filters, unfortunately found in many sunscreen products, can lose their effectiveness and reduce the sun protection factor.

Fortunately, partly because of Koreans’ obsession with a healthy and pristine complexion, Korean sunscreens represent the ultimate in cosmetic technology devoted to skin protection. 

Therefore, it is important to use high-quality products with photostable filters to ensure safe protection.Browse our section on Korean sunscreens and protect your skin before it’s too late.

SHOP NOW: BUY THE BEST KOREAN SUNSCREENS AT MILOON

How often should sunscreen be reapplied based on SPF? 

Sunscreen loses its filtering power over time. That is why it is advisable to reapply the product several times during the day, especially in children. 

Let’s see how and why: 

On average, skin burns within the first 10-20 minutes of sun exposure. 

We will first have to calculate how long we will be protected by the SPF and then replenish the sunscreen by reapplying.

Let’s take an Example: SPF 30

I.E. SPF 30 =

15 minutes x 30 = 450 minutes before you burn.

So how often should you reapply sunscreen?

In the specific case of SPF 30 protection, the sunscreen has 450 minutes of coverage.  

This means you will need to reapply it every 2 to 4 hours.

Warning: Sun damage is cumulative: it increases from time to time even years later.

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