Glossary
Broad spectrum
A sunscreen that filters both UVA and UVB. Without it, SPF alone is half the job.
'Broad spectrum' means a sunscreen protects against both ranges of ultraviolet light that reach the skin, not just the one SPF measures.
SPF describes UVB protection — the range that causes burning. UVA penetrates more deeply, passes through window glass, is present all day and in cloud, and is the range most associated with pigmentation and long-term change. A product with a high SPF and no UVA protection leaves you unburnt and unprotected against the thing most people are actually buying sunscreen for.
How it is marked differs by region:
- PA+ to PA++++ on Japanese and Korean products, four plusses being the highest - UVA inside a circle on European products, meaning UVA protection is at least a third of the SPF - 'Broad spectrum' on American and many other products
Any of those marks is what you are looking for. A bottle that says only 'SPF 50' with no UVA indication is not telling you enough.
In Bangladesh, where sun exposure is year-round and pigmentation is the most common concern, the UVA mark matters more than the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50.
See also
This article is general information, not medical advice. Skincare products are not medicines. Speak to a dermatologist about persistent or worsening skin conditions.