Sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of how effectively a sunscreen product can protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation.1 Photoprotection is one of the leading preventative health strategies people can work with in the world of skincare and aesthetics.
Routine use of SPF has been shown to reduce melanoma risk, as well as the incidence of actinic keratoses, solar elastosis and squamous cell carcinoma.2-4 It is crucial that aesthetic practitioners understand the science behind SPF so they can properly advise their patients on the necessity of its use.
Even though SPF is a relatively recent innovation, protecting the skin from the sun is not new. In ancient Egypt, pale skin was highly prized, and skin was protected with rice bran, jasmine and lupine. All three of these ingredients are now reported to have protective effects: rice bran absorbs…
