What Level SPF Should I Use in My Skin Care Routine?

The sun exposure that you get unintentionally during the day (referred to as incidental sun exposure) is both cumulative and damaging, it accounts for 80 percent of an individual's lifetime exposure. For this reason, I always recommend applying a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis. My patients often say SPF 15 is no different than a higher SPF, but this is wrong. While the difference might by minimal if applied in the right quantity and frequency, most people don't apply their sunscreen correctly to begin with. So I say go for a higher number to make up the difference.