Sunscreen spray is convenient: It’s easy to apply compared to creams from tubes or bottles and is helpful when it comes to reaching your back and shoulders. But is it just as effective as sunscreen? We asked an expert.
For many people, the sun puts us in a good mood and gives us that summer feeling – but we have to protect ourselves from its dangers. Keyword: sunscreen. When applied correctly, sun protection protects the skin from dangerous UVA and UVB rays and reduces the risk of skin cancer, sunburn, premature skin aging and unsightly skin discoloration.
Sun spray or sunscreen?
The selection of sunscreens in the drugstore is huge – it’s difficult to decide which one you should buy:
- SPF 20, 30 or 50?
- Do children need special children’s sunscreen?
- Which sunscreens performed best in tests?
- The question is also important: sun spray or sun cream?
We wanted to know whether a sunscreen spray or a traditional lotion from a tube or bottle was a better choice and did some research.
Is sunscreen spray as effective as lotion?
The short answer is: yes. The various sun protection alternatives differ in their texture, but not in their effect. This means: Products with the same sun protection factor and the same UVA rating are equally good at protecting the skin. “The manufacturers themselves use appropriate tests to ensure that their products meet the advertised SPF and UVA protection,” explains Christine Throl, editor at Öko-Test and responsible for testing sunscreen. Of course, the prerequisite is always that the products are used correctly.
So whether you rub yourself with an SPF 50 sunscreen or spray a lot of an SPF 50 sunscreen spray into your hand and apply it, the effect is the same. It looks different when you spray the spray onto the skin.
What are the pros and cons of sunscreen sprays?
The biggest advantage of sunscreen sprays is that they are convenient. Many people enjoy spraying more than applying cream. But there are also a few points that clearly speak in favor of the cream variant and against the spray: Sprays are often applied too sparingly, their use is only recommended when there is no breeze and the sprays should not be inhaled either.
“As a dermatologist, I am not a fan of sun sprays,” is the conclusion of Christoph Liebich, a dermatologist in Munich. For one simple reason: “With sprays, most of the cream doesn’t reach the skin.”
Expert tips for using sun spray
Anyone who uses sun sprays should take the following points into account:
#1: Don’t use sunscreen spray too sparingly
Hardly anyone knows how much sunscreen is really necessary to protect the skin. “That’s 2 milligrams of sunscreen per centimeter of skin surface,” explains Christoph Liebich and calculates: “For a 1.80 meter tall person, the need is 20 to 25 milliliters of sunscreen. For each application of cream.” That’s around three to four tablespoons.
Harvard Medical School points out that most people are particularly careful when applying sunscreen sprays: “Studies on sunscreen sprays show that many people only apply a quarter of the amount needed. To achieve a sun protection factor (SPF) similar to a lotion or gel, you need to spray each part of the body for up to six seconds.”
#2: Sunscreen sprays are not suitable for the face
There is an all-clear when it comes to nanoparticles: In previous tests, aerosol sprays did not contain any nano-sized UV filters. According to Stiftung Warentest, the risk of absorbing nanoparticles through the respiratory tract is generally considered to be low – even with sprays. The general recommendation not to spray sprays on the face still remains.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends against using sunscreen sprays near the face. The spray can irritate the lungs when inhaled, especially in people with conditions such as asthma.
#3: Only apply sunscreen sprays in windless places
A study by Griffith University in Brisbane examined the loss of sunscreen when using sprays at different wind speeds: With even a light breeze of 10 km/h, the research team observed a sunscreen loss of 54 percent. “On windy days, Australians using aerosol sunscreen could waste up to 93% of their bottle as the wind carries the sunscreen into the environment where it can impact coastal ecosystems,” explains Dr. Elke Hacker, senior research fellow at Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University. Of course, this also applies to all other places in the world.
When is sun spray useful?
The dermatologist Christoph Liebich recommends sunscreen in spray form for acne patients, for example. “The sprays often have a lower fat content and are therefore better suited for sensitive acne skin.”
His tip: “It’s better to spray the sunscreen into your hand – and not directly onto the body – and then apply the cream like normal sun lotion.” Then you know what really works on your skin.
Even if things have to be done quickly or for children who are vehemently reluctant to apply sunscreen, a sun spray and the fun spraying activity associated with it is often the key to success. Because the motto is: No matter what type of sun protection you choose – the main thing is that you protect your skin – and that of your children – from dangerous radiation.
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