UVA Rays and European Sunscreens

Everyone knows how important it is to wear sunscreen. What everyone does not know is that U.S. labels are misleading and while you think you are being protected, you are not.

Here's why. U.S. sunscreen labels only have UVB ratings. SPF refers to the amount of UVB rays it is blocking. SPF mostly refers to the probability you will get sunburned. But there is no scale for UVA rays. Therefore you could be wearing SPF 40 sunscreen and only blocking out half of the UVA rays.

Why is this important?

UVA rays cause wrinkles and sun spots. These are the rays that will make you look 70 when you are 50. There are many suncreeens that are broad-spectrum, meaning that they protect against UVA and UVB rays, but U.S. lables give no indication of the level or wavelengths of UVA protection.

European manufactuers in particular use the PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) rating system to measure how well the suncreen protects you from UVA light.

Since UVA light is what causes you to tan, these are the rays we definitely need to protect ourselves from. To recap, U.S. sunscreens do not offer a reliable or obvious measure of UVA blockage.

European sunscreen makers do using the PPD rating.

Below are European sunscreens and their PPD ratings. If you are extremely sun-sensitive with issues such as freckling or melasma, the higher the PPD the better. If you are worried about these issues, you should be looking at a PPD of 15 or higher.

Bioderma Photoderm AKN Spray SPF 30/PPD 26
Bioderma Photoderm Max Fluide SPF 50+/PPD 35
Avene Emulsion Ultra PRotection for Sensitive Skin SPF 20/PPD 10
Bioderma Photoderm MAx Tinted Cream PPD 41
Vichy Capital Soleil Kids Multi-Surface Mild PPD 22
La Roche Posay Anthelios XL sunscreen PPD 30 (this one has been reported to be effective at combating freckles and melasma).

All of these can be ordered off internet sites and even ebay. They will be more expensive, but they are also doing more to protect your skin. What you pay now will decrease dermatologist visits later.

I noticed that Neutrogena advertises UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70 as the "latest breakthrough in UV protection...offer the best UVA/UVB protection there is." They use PFA, a UVA protection factor, and measure is at 23.3 I don't know what this means, but it seems worth researching.

Check out makeup alley and type in the screenname sunscreen to get more information.

Save face and use broad spectrum sunscreen.