Sunscreen Question

**wartknight** · 05-09-2012, 05:47 PM

ANyone know how it works? My wife is very fair-skinned so she slaps a ton of it on my kids before they go outside all the time. One continues to look like she's never stepped out of our basement while another is already extremely tan for this time of year. Same lotion. Applied almost exactly the same. I admittedly don't know the chemistry behind how it works. Anyone here have any knowledge of this?

**Kyle** · 05-09-2012, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by wartknight

ANyone know how it works? My wife is very fair-skinned so she slaps a ton of it on my kids before they go outside all the time. One continues to look like she's never stepped out of our basement while another is already extremely tan for this time of year. Same lotion. Applied almost exactly the same. I admittedly don't know the chemistry behind how it works. Anyone here have any knowledge of this?

Let me google that for you

**zwclones51** · 05-09-2012, 06:07 PM

GINGER

**BigM** · 05-09-2012, 06:12 PM

Sounds like one kid got the pasty genetics while the other is more normal skinned

**ruxCYtable** · 05-09-2012, 06:19 PM

Here is the extend of my knowledge on sunscreen. Anything over SPF15 is a waste of money.

**BigM** · 05-09-2012, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

Here is the extend of my knowledge on sunscreen. Anything over SPF15 is a waste of money.

as a life guard I professionally disagree with this anything over 50 however IS a waste of money 15 and 30 have quite a difference.

**no2cyclones** · 05-09-2012, 06:22 PM

This site actually does a decent job of explaining it quickly:

How does sunscreen work?| Explore | physics.org

**ruxCYtable** · 05-09-2012, 06:34 PM

the diff between 15 and 30 is 93% to almost 98%. so i mostly agree with you but i would even extend it to say anything over spf30 isnt worth it.

**3TrueFans** · 05-09-2012, 06:43 PM

Make sure you reapply. And don't forget to bring a towel.

**ISUcy08** · 05-09-2012, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

the diff between 15 and 30 is 93% to almost 98%. so i mostly agree with you but i would even extend it to say anything over spf30 isnt worth it.

This. My surgeon who cut out my skin cancer said SPF 35 blocks 97% of harmful rays, and that paying more for anything over 35 isn't worth it because 35 does plenty.

**CtownCyclone** · 05-09-2012, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by ISUcy08

This. My surgeon who cut out my skin cancer said SPF 35 blocks 97% of harmful rays, and that paying more for anything over 35 isn't worth it because 35 does plenty.

Also, I believe the higher SPF's break down fairly quickly, leaving you with only a few minutes of actually higher protection. My doctor has told me essentially the same thing - SPF 30 is more than adequate.

**WhatchaGonnaDo** · 05-09-2012, 08:57 PM

**BallSoHard4Cy** · 05-09-2012, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by WhatchaGonnaDo

That show is hilarious when he is on it! Haha

**kilgore_trout** · 05-09-2012, 09:03 PM

You're a towel!

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

Make sure you reapply. And don't forget to bring a towel.

**Clonefan94** · 05-09-2012, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by ISUcy08

This. My surgeon who cut out my skin cancer said SPF 35 blocks 97% of harmful rays, and that paying more for anything over 35 isn't worth it because 35 does plenty.

I don't shop sunscreen. Is there a huge difference in price? I always hear people say stuff like this and assume anything over SPF 15 must be the price of gold.