What is the difference between spf 30 and 100

An SPF of 50 allows about 2 percent of those rays through. That may seem like a small difference until you realize that the SPF 30 is allowing 50 percent more UV radiation onto your skin. Under ideal conditions like in a laboratory , a sunscreen with higher SPF protection and broad-spectrum coverage offers more protection against sunburn, UVA damage and DNA damage than comparable products with lower SPF values.

But , real life is not like a lab. In real life, products with very high SPFs often create a false sense of security. People who use them tend to stay out in the sun much longer. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. What SPF sunscreen should you use? SPF 30? What those numbers mean and what the experts recommend. Sarah Mitroff. July 1, p. CNET Wellness. Discuss: What SPF sunscreen should you use?

Here, dermatologists break down whether or not you should be reaching for SPF SPF 30 protects against 97 percent of the sun's rays, says Dr. Shari Sperling , a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey. Anything over SPF 30 increases coverage from between 97 percent to percent, she explains.

So, while higher is better in that sense, a higher SPF won't protect you for a longer amount of time, says Green. Using a high SPF such as can give you a false sense of protection, because people assume that SPF allows them to stay in the sun for a longer period of time without reapplying, she explains.

Sunscreen with SPF above 60 have less UVA protection—the sun's rays responsible for skin aging, hyperpigmentation, and more aggressive skin cancers including melanomas, says Dr.

At worst, they could give you a false sense of security and make you spend more time in the sun — upping your risk for burns and skin cancer. UVB is the kind responsible for sunburns, while UVA is the kind that reaches deeper into the skin and causes skin aging.

Both of them increase your risk of skin cancer. SPF 30 is a solid choice. Experts also worry that high SPF products might make people spend more time in the sun because they think they're getting extra protection. It has nothing to do with deep-penetrating UVA radiation.

In fact, the US has no labeling system that tells consumers how much UVA protection they're getting or not in a sunscreen. This is another major downside of higher-SPF products. To ensure you're getting equal protection from both types of radiation, check the ingredients list.