Roberta Sant'Anna / Unsplash Everything you need to know before you step outside. Most people who wear sunscreen every day are still getting burned, not because their SPF is too low, but because of how they're applying it. Research on real-world use consistently finds that people apply far less sunscreen than the amount used to calculate the SPF number on the bottle, which means the actual protection they're getting is a fraction of what's printed on the label. This guide breaks down what SPF actually means, how much sunscreen you really need, when and how to reapply it, and the small mistakes that quietly undo your protection. What SPF Actually Measures SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it measures protection against UVB rays specifically: the type that causes sunburn and plays a major role in skin cancer risk. It does not directly measure UVA protection, which is why dermatologists recommend a "broad spectrum" label, not just a high SPF number....
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