Is SPF 100 Worth It?
As seen in Metro
Skin health expert Dr Ross Perry was invited to give his expert advice for Metro readers about high strength sunscreen products
The feature headlined:
How effective is SPF 100 and do you need ultra-high protection suncream?
SPF 30 is generally considered the minimum essential protection for family holidays and many now opt for SPF 50 for kids, sensitive skin or just the reassurance of extra protection.
However, if you are looking for the ultimate protection against harmful UVB and UVA rays, SPF 100 sounds compelling. This ultra-high protection suncream offers maximum defence against sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.
Studies have supported the concept that higher SPF gives better protection. Researchers in 2018 demonstrated that 55% of the SPF 50+ wearers had signs of sunburn, compared to just 5% of SPF 100+ users.
What is SPF?
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, measures a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays, which are responsible for causing sunburn and skin damage. The higher the SPF number, the greater the level of protection.
SPF 100 provides the highest level of protection available, blocking out 99% of UVB rays. This means you can enjoy longer periods of time in the sun without worrying about burning or damaging your skin.
Dr Ross Perry, GP and founder of Skin Surgery & Laser Clinic (Cosmedics Skin Clinics) told Metro:
“If you would burn after 15 minutes in the sun without protection, an SPF 30 would give you 30 times that protection – so around four to five hours in the sun without burning.
“SPF 100 generally just means that it would give 100 times the protection of what a normal burn time would be.”
However, Dr Perry stressed that SPF is not an exact science”
“It is never the case that coverage will last exactly 100, 50 or 30 times the burn times as people sweat, wash SPF off in pools or the sea, or rub it off against clothing
“For that reason, we normally recommend reapplying every two-to-three hours if you’re in a sunny, hot climate – even if you’re using a high SPF.
“SPF 100 is normally about 99% efficacious in terms of its sunblock, whereas SPF 50 is 98% and SPF 30 is 97%. As you can see, there is not a great deal of difference between them.”
The writer concludes that SPF doesn’t provide total protection from the sun. In addition, it is much harder to find than SPF 30 or SPF 60 and can also be thick and hard to apply. As Dr Ross Perry says:
“People often find it too uncomfortable, thick or greasy to wear.”
For many people, it may be a sensible compromise to user a lower SPF but be diligent about reapplying it regularly to top up protection – especially after swimming or sweaty activities.
To read this article in full, please visit https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/19/effective-spf-100-need-ultra-high-protection-suncream-21151242/.
Dr Ross Perry
Dr Ross Perry is a GP as well as founder of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, leading provider of private mole removal. He also works in the NHS in skin cancer reconstruction surgery. His expert advice has been featured on TV as well as regularly appearing in printed and online press.
Skin Surgery Laser Clinics
Cosmedics’ Skin Surgery Laser Clinic offer private mole removal at a selection of clinics based in London and Bristol. Moles are removed using the latest surgical techniques including laser mole removal; with trained doctors and surgeons.
Our team of qualified and experienced doctors and surgeons also treat other skin blemishes, including sebaceous cysts, skin tags, warts and lipoma using freezing, laser or surgical techniques.
For ultimate peace of mind, Cosmedics Skin Surgery Laser Clinic offer a thorough top to toe mole check carried out by their trained and experienced doctors.
Cosmedics Skin Clinics was founded in 2003 by Dr Ross Perry, a qualified and experienced London GP who has an excellent reputation in skin treatments and has removed thousands of lesions/blemishes in his career.
For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.
