Does the higher the SPF rating, the better the sunscreen?

The hot summer brings people not only heat, but also a large amount of ultraviolet rays. Many beauty-conscious ladies will choose products such as BB cream, air cushion cream, and sunscreen at this time. The reporter learned that many consumers often use SPF (sun protection factor) as one of the most important references when purchasing sunscreen products, but pay little attention to other information.

"I know that the SPF index is the sun protection level. The higher the number, the better the sun protection effect." Miss Jin from Jiaojiang is only 17 years old this year, but she has her own insights on sunscreen.

So, is this really the case? The reporter consulted relevant information and learned that the so-called SPF index is actually the multiple of the time the skin can resist ultraviolet rays. The higher the SPF value, the longer the sun protection lasts. Generally speaking, the sun protection index of low-level sunscreens is SPF2~6, mid-level is SPF6~8, and high-level sunscreens are SPF8~12. Products with SPF values ​​within the range of 12~30 are high-strength or ultra-high-strength sunscreens.

According to the "Cosmetic Hygiene Standards" officially implemented in my country on July 1, 2007, when the SPF value of the measured sunscreen cosmetic product is higher than 30, and is still greater than 30 after subtracting the standard deviation, the maximum value can only be marked as SPF30+, and the actual measured value cannot be marked.

However, when the reporter visited some supermarkets in the city, he found that there are still many imported products with SPF values ​​marked as 40, 50, or even as high as 100.

In a cosmetics store in Jiaojiang Galaxy Mall, a salesperson recommended to the reporter an air cushion cream imported from South Korea with a sun protection factor of SPF50+. "This product has appeared many times in TV dramas and is very useful." The reporter found that SPF50+ was marked on the front of the sunscreen.

On Taobao, the reporter saw that "professional sun protection", "essential for outdoor use", "highly efficient and long-lasting" are the most commonly used promotional terms for these high SPF sunscreens. The price difference of products with different SPF factors of the same brand can be as much as 2 to 3 times. Take Clinique as an example. The same 150 ml body sunscreen cream with SPF30 costs 280 yuan, while SPF50 costs 40 yuan more.

Experts told reporters that experiments show that the minimum erythema dose for Asians is about 15 minutes. That is, after using a sunscreen with an SPF of 4, you can theoretically stay in the sun for four times as long (60 minutes) before your skin appears slightly red. If you choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 8, you can stay in the sun for eight times as long (120 minutes), and so on. The SPF value of some products even reaches 80. These products are designed for people who are exposed to the sun, but are not very useful to ordinary citizens.