What Is SPF? | Sun Protection Terms Demystified

Do you know your sunscreen jargon?

As a consumer, we all love plenty of choice and when it comes to sun protection, there are thousands of different options to choose from. The array of lotions, gels, sprays and creams can be confusing, and the different UV protection labels tricky to understand. 

We may be a relatively “unknown” brand in the UK compared to Ambre Solaire or Nivea but Techniblock was introduced to the market in South Africa more than 30 years ago and we’ve been selling it in the UK since 2010!

Techniblock was developed by a pharmacist and manufactured in a world-class pharmaceutical laboratory near Johannesburg and is a well-established, prominent choice for protecting the skin against the harsh and unrelenting South African sun.

However, due to changes in sunscreen legislation in the UK regarding permissible ingredients, Techniblock is being phased out and will be replaced by our new brand TechniSun. 

TechniSun has been created by the same pharmacist who developed Techniblock and is very similar in terms of it's texture/application and effectiveness at protecting the skin against UV.

The range use the very latest sunscreen technologies and provides high-quality, broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV rays. TechniSun is also a reef-safe, vegan and cruelty-free formula that is dermatologically approved for sensitive skin.

SPF

• What it stands for: Sun Protection Factor.
• What it does for your skin: It only deals with the UVB part of the ultraviolet energy that comes from the sun. UVB energy causes redness and sunburn on the skin. Want a trick to remember this? UVB, UV-Burn!
• How it works: It compares how much longer it takes for UVB to cause redness on the skin. So, an SPF of 50 means that, if it took 10 minutes for redness to appear on unprotected skin, it will take around 50 times that for the same symptoms to appear on the skin. In addition, due to the absence of oils and emulsifiers within the formula, it is highly water-resistant (these ingredients break down in water) and this makes TechniSun very long lasting and robust, even while swimming or perspiring.

UVA

• What it stands for: Ultra-Violet A.
• What it does to your skin: UVA energy doesn’t cause as much redness or sunburn, but it damages our skin’s genes, which leads to mutations and in the worst cases, skin cancer. It speeds up skin aging (hello, wrinkles, lines, and saggy skin) and can also cause hyperpigmentation. UVA radiation, which accounts for most of the sun’s rays, penetrates deeper into the levels of skin and is present all through the day, even on cloudy days.
  An easy way to remember? UVA, UV-Aging.
• How to protect your skin against UVA: Nowadays, there’s better sunscreen filters that protect against UVA energy. Look for a sun protection that offers “broad spectrum” protection, like TechniSun, and carries the UVA/UVB symbol on the packaging. To achieve a broad-spectrum rating, 90% of the total UV absorption must fall under 370 nm.

UVB

• What it stands for: Ultra-Violet B.
• What it does to your skin: UVB rays, also known as sunburn rays, have a 290 to 320 nm wavelength and are more associated with skin cancer than UVA tanning rays. This is because UVB rays cause direct DNA damage in skin cells and are the main rays that cause sunburns. An easy way to remember? UVB, UV-Burning.
• How to protect your skin against UVB: The SPF rating of a sunscreen relates to the protection from UVB. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection. An SPF of 30 will filter 97% of UVB, an SPF of 50 will filter 99% of UVB radiation, thus highlighting the importance of a broad-spectrum sunscreen like TechniSun.

PPD

• What it stands for: Persistent Pigment Darkening.
• How it works: This terminology, mostly used in Asia and Europe, is similar to what we know already about SPF. The main difference is that we’re talking about UVA exposure and not UVB. PPD is tested on a panel of people exposed to UVA light. They all are analysed on the time it takes for their skin to tan and the results are compared between unprotected and protected skin. A PPD of 10 means that it will take around 10 times longer for your skin to tan, compared to if it was unprotected.

PA

• What it stands for: Protection Grade of UVA.
• How it works The PA system simplifies and groups the ratings from a PPD test. It ranges from PA+ to PA++++, being PA+ a sunscreen with a PPD of 2 to less than 4, PA++ one with PPD of 4 to 8, PA+++ from 8 to 16 and, finally, PA++++ those with a PPD of 16 or greater. The PA plus system is used in Australia, Japan, South Africa and the USA and is the equivalent of the UK/EU 5 Star Rating system.
• TechniSun Sun Protection Sprays have all been tested and confirmed as having a PA of 21.03, therefore PA++++ which is the highest rating currently available within all sunscreens worldwide and equivalent to a 5-star rating.

So, now you know your sunscreen jargon, choosing the right sun protection for you and your family should be easy. However, there’s still a lot of other factors to consider when deciding what to purchase. High protection can sometimes mean thick, gooey creams that take ages to rub in; or leave a white cast on the skin.  Sunscreens that encapsulate the UV filters in emulsifiers must be frequently re-applied after prolonged contact with water because they break down and wash off. Lotions and creams must be used within a specific period after opening as air can compromise the product and make it less effective.

Our suncare range is quite unique because the UV filters are encapsulated in a CFC-free ethanol-based spray that evaporates quickly and leaves behind just the ingredients needed to protect the skin. There’s no stickiness, nothing to break down in water, and it’s quick and easy to apply (although it must be sprayed in a sheltered area to ensure even coverage). It’s so light on the skin and yet the protection it offers is second-to-none.

Our sun protection also offers great value for money because there is no expiry date on aerosols.  The formula has undergone rigorous stability testing and has passed the 30 month durability test.  The airtight canister stops deterioration so you'll never have to throw away a half-used bottle, although we do recommend that product is used within 24 months of opening.

So, now you know your sunscreen jargon, you can be confident that TechniSun is the right choice when it comes to a high performing, durable and effective solution for protecting your skin.