Secrets about Sun Protection Indexes

Secrets about Sun Protection Indexes

Understand the Sun Protection Indexes to choose for a suitable and correct sun block product during summer time.

The summer time is coming! Everyone will want to know which type of sun block products that suit the different needs of different people. The important thing is correctly read the contents of the labels and the instructions on that product before buy it. So we must first understand the different sun protection indexes to choose for a suitable product.


Firstly, let us understand the ultraviolet (UV rays) before we go into detail on the indexes. UV rays are the arch criminals involved in sunburn and suntan. The middle range UV rays (UVB) will cause skin redness, peeling, sunburn and skin aging. The more serious effect from UVB can cause skin cancer if it goes deeply into the dermal layers of the skin. The sun protection indexes normally will be showed on the sun block products labels, which refer to the protection against UVB and UVA.


The sun protection indexes are known as SPF, PA, IPD, PPD and PFA. However, only SPF and PA are commonly used.


SPF
SPF is an abbreviation of Sun Protection Factor. It is an international recognized protection standard against UVB. SPF is followed by a number to represent the power of sun block. The higher number of the SPF means the stronger power of the sun block against UVB. It will go as high as SPF50 and even higher as SPF50+. Normally, SPF30 is enough and suitable for the normal users because it can block as much as 97% of the UVB under the sun.


PA
PA is the abbreviation of Protection Grade of UVA. It is an index proposed by the Ministry of Health in Japan. It appears as PA+, PA++ or PA+++. The more plus following PA represents the stronger power of the sun block protection against UVA.


IPD&PPD 
IPD and PPD are the UVA protection grade used in Europe. IPD is an abbreviation of Immediate Pigment Darkening. PPD is an abbreviation of Persistent Pigment Darkening. They are referring to the ratio of protection level against UVA of the skin with and without sun block.  The sun block with IPD10 means that the skin will be protected by delayed 150 minutes instead of 15 minutes to let the UVA go into the skin. So it will take 10 times protection and delay the time of UVA affect the skin.


Nowadays, the sun block products may be classified as chemical or physical. The commercially products may provide only the chemical protection, physical protection or the mixture of the both protection.


Physical sunscreen products are the best among the other. It is good for hypersensitive skin, AD akin and even babies. Although it is stable and unlikely to deteriorate, the cream is too thick and creamy. It will make the skin appear white. So it is not commonly used, especially for the people who is oily skin, mixed skin or have acne problem.


Chemical sunscreen products use structural quality neutralization strategy to produce a range of derivative compounds. Although it is quite risky for the hypersensitive skin, AD skin and babies, it is not oily. After using it, the skin will feel comfortable and remain clear. So it is commonly used among the people, especially the oily skin an acne problem people.


A proper and better sun block product must have understandable and correct information labelled by the manufacturer. Other than the sun protection indexes, the date of manufacture and the expiration date also important to be labelled on the products. Hopefully the above information will help everyone in choosing a suitable sun block to have a good and healthy looking during summer.