Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and Sunscreen

Updated on March 03, 2022

Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MD

Woman sunbathing on the beach — Andre Lichtenberg/Getty Images

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which is an indication of how much protection a sunscreen offers against UVB rays and sunburn.

In general, a sunscreen with:

SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays

As you can see, once you get to SPF 30, you don't get that much extra protection by going higher.

While you can certainly use a sunscreen with SPF 50+ to SPF 100+, keep in mind that they don't offer that much extra protection. Using a high SPF sunscreen might be a good idea for those parents who don't use enough sunscreen and don't reapply it often enough though.

Also, remember that SPF is only an indication of effectiveness against UVB rays. That is why it is important for parents to for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to SPF 30, which should block most UVA and UVB rays when applied properly. You should avoid a low SPF sunscreen or suntan lotion, which don't provide enough sun protection.

UVA Protection Ratings

There is currently no easy way to know how effective a sunscreen is against UVA rays. New FDA sunscreen labeling, in addition to possibly placing a cap of SPF 50+, was supposed to introduce a new UVA four-star system so that parents could easily figure out if a sunscreen offered low UVA protection (one star) or the highest UVA protection (four stars). The new labels would also clearly state if a sunscreen offered 'no UVA protection.'

Unfortunately, the Final Rule on new sunscreen labeling eliminated the star system, thinking it would be too confusing.

If a sunscreen is now labeled Broad Spectrum, then it does protect against UVA rays.

SPF for Clothing

Clothing has a separate rating system that is similar to the SPF rating of sunscreen.

However, instead of an SPF rating, some clothing has an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating, which can range from 15 (good sun protection) to 50+ (excellent sun protection) to indicate the percentage of UVA and UVB rays it can block.

So What Does SPF Really Mean?

Contrary to popular belief, SPF does not let you know how much time you can spend out in the sun, but is related to the amount of sun exposure. It is really difficult to say exactly how long it will take for any one person get a sunburn without any sun protection.

You have to factor in a person's skin type, where they live, the time of year, and even the time of day to know how long they might be able to stay in the sun and not get a sunburn.

For example, someone with a light complexion sitting in the sun in Texas at 2 pm in the middle of summer is going to burn a lot faster than someone with a darker complexion in Idaho 6 pm in the winter.

Other factors that increase your risk of getting a sunburn more quickly include taking certain medications, including many medications used to treat acne, being at a high altitude, and being near surfaces that might reflect the sun, such as snow and sand.

And remember that sunscreen becomes less effective after about two hours and needs to be reapplied.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Consumer Reports. What does SPF stand for? May 15, 2015.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: how to help protect your skin from the sun. August 29, 2019.
Labeling and effectiveness testing; sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use; delay of compliance dates. Final rule; delay of compliance dates; request for comments. Fed Regist. 2012;77(92):27591-3.
Bielinski K, Bielinski N. UV radiation transmittance: regular clothing versus sun-protective clothing. Cutis. 2014;94(3):135-8.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sun Protection Factor (SPF). July 14, 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Sun exposure. Reviewed June 1, 2018.

Additional Reading

Wang, Steven Q. Current status of the sunscreen regulation in the United States: 2011 Food and Drug Administration’s final rule on labeling and effectiveness testing. J Am Acad Dermatol. August 5, 2011.

By Vincent Iannelli, MD
Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years.

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