Is Factor 50 Sacred, or Not?

The sun is appearing more frequently in the Netherlands. Wonderful, but don't forget to apply sunscreen to yourself and your kids. Even in this spring sun, you can burn within 20 minutes. Therefore, it's important to protect yourself against the sun by applying a suitable sunscreen, among other things. But which sunscreen should you use? And is a sunscreen with factor 50 better than factor 30?

Sun Protection Factor
Compared to an adult's skin, your child's skin is more susceptible to the sun's UV radiation. The extent to which a sunscreen protects you and your child from burning is indicated by the Sun Protection Factor, also known as the protection factor. Which factor is suitable for you or your child depends on the skin type. Each skin type reacts differently to the sun's heat. If you burn easily—this often applies to people with freckles and fair skin—a sunscreen with factor 20 to 30 is recommended. If not, a sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 is often sufficient.

Factor 30 or 50, what is the difference?
Although you might think that it's always better to use a sunscreen with a protection factor of 50, this is not always the case. First of all, the difference between the two protection factors, according to various dermatologists, is not that significant: factor 30 provides 96.6% protection and factor 50 provides 98%. 100% protection does not exist, according to the dermatologists.

But what does make a difference between factor 30 and 50 is the psychological effect. People who apply factor 50 think they are better protected. As a result, they apply it less frequently, less thickly, and do not take other measures to protect themselves from the sun.

Children in the sun
Children can burn quickly.Hereyou can read our tips to prevent your child from getting sunburned. We also explain what to do when things go wrong, because a sunburn is already a first-degree burn.

Want to know more? Sign up now for a first aid course for babies and children.Hereyou can find our range of first aid courses near you.

You might also find this interesting:

Source: KWF and FAMME