Applying sunscreen is one of the first key steps to staying protected from the sun and skin concerns caused by sun damage. However, reapplying sunscreen is just as important and essential to keep your skin well-protected throughout the whole day.
Sunscreen wears off and loses its effectiveness over time, and the need to reapply sunscreen can depend on a variety of factors. The capacity of sunscreen to stay on the skin is hampered by excessive perspiration, towelling off, and swimming, making reapplication crucial.
According to research, reapplying sunscreen results in 2-3 times less skin exposure to the sun than applying sunscreen only once.
So how often should we re-apply sunscreen?
The general rule to remember is to re-apply every 2 hours to stay well protected.
It may seem straightforward to calculate how frequently to reapply sunscreen depending on your SPF, however, the truth is wearing more SPF doesn’t give you more time between sunscreen applications. The level of SPF is a direct reflection of how much UVB protection your sunscreen offers.
- SPF15 – blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF30 – blocks 97% of UVB rays
- SPF50 – blocks 98% of UVB rays
- SPF100 – blocks 99% of UVB rays
Therefore, the amount time between application depends on your daily activities and not the SPF.
It is important to re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours if you’re outside, or at least every 80 minutes during water play, and every 4-6 hours if you’re inside.
What happens if I don’t re-apply sunscreen?
Sunscreen generally offers about two hours of protection per application. If you’re out and about 10 hours of the day, that leaves eight hours of exposure without effective SPF coverage. This can result in a risk of sun damage, causing:
- Skin cancer
- Painful Sunburns
- Skin damage
- Early signs of aging
How much sunscreen should I apply?
The Two-finger rule
You should be applying sunscreen to both your face and body.
According to the Cancer Council, you should be applying at least 1 teaspoon per limb and face. If you don’t have a teaspoon handy, a great way to ensure you apply the right quantity of sunscreen is to use the two-finger rule.
Squeeze sunscreen the length of both your middle and index finger—two fingers of sunscreen. You should apply a full two-finger amount to each of the following areas: the face & neck area, left arm, right arm, upper back, lower back, upper front torso, lower front torso, right and left upper leg, and right and left lower leg.
How to protect your skin from the Sun?
Sunscreen should not be the only form of sun protection to fight against sun damage. When it is the peak of summer where UV index is higher than 3, please remember to stay safe in the sun. Here are other ways to stay protected:
Shade
Staying under an Umbrella, tree or other shelter would reduce your risk of sun damage.
Clothing
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts can provide protection from UV rays.
Hat
Wearing a hat that shades your face, ears and the back of your neck can provide the most protection. A darker hat may offer more UV protection than a light colour, and avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through.
Sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes as well as the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
Sunscreen
Putting on broad spectrum sunscreen before you go outside can offer protection to your exposed skin. However, sunscreens cannot always provide the optimum protection against UV rays, and a single application of sunscreen is not always sufficient. To receive the best protection, always remember to reapply sunscreen.