What does SPF mean? | Sally Beauty

What does SPF mean?

SPF stands for "sun protection factor." SPF ratings range from a base of 2 to a peak of 50, providing the strongest protection. Most dermatologists believe that SPF 15 is adequate protection. To estimate how long you can stay in the sun without burning, multiply the number of minutes it normally takes your skin to turn red by the SPF. For example, if your unprotected skin begins to redden in 10 minutes, an SPF of 15 will give you 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of sun protection (10 minutes x SPF 15=150).