The sun has given us so much. Flowers, for example. Also sunsets, vitamin D and the 2002 Sheryl Crow hit Soak Up the Sun.
And yet, despite its brilliant generosity, humans must also diligently shield themselves from the sun lest its ultraviolet rays inflict damage on our soft, fallible bodies. Among our most powerful defenses? SPF products. SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of how well sunscreen protects our skin from the sun’s rays, specifically its UVB rays, says Dr Heather Rogers, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Seattle-based practice Modern Dermatology.
This protection helps shield sun-seekers from skin cancer and premature ageing, Rogers explains. Graphic with three lines of text that say, in bold, ‘Well Actually’, then ‘Read more on living a good life in a complex world,’ then a pinkish-lavender pill-shaped button with white letters that say ‘More from this section’ While sunscreen abounds in pharmacy aisles and beach totes, many people aren’t applying it correctly , experts say. And the consequences are dangerous.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). In the UK, rates of melanoma, one of the most serious forms of skin cancer, reached a record high in 2023. “Your melanoma risk doubles with only five sunburns,” Dr Matthew Block, medical oncologist, and Dr Tina Hieken, surgical oncologist, the leaders of the Stand Up to Cancer Melanoma Research Te.
