KPH Logo 1

 

Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Instagram

 

 

Measles Outbreak in Knox County, 20 Total Confirmed Cases News Release 4/14/2025

 HC Logo

  • Home
  • A-Z Index
  • Environmental Health
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Bed Bugs
    • Body Art (Tattoo & Body Piercing)
    • Campgrounds and Resident Campgrounds
    • Food Safety
    • Mold
    • Mosquitoes
    • Nuisances
    • Pools & Beaches
    • Radon
    • Sewage
    • Ticks
    • Water
    • Orphan Well Program
  • Public Health Programs
    • Birth/Death Certificates
    • CPR Training
    • Drug Free Communities
      • Hidden in Plain Sight
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Get Healthy Knox County
      • Creating Healthy Communities
        • Healthy Eating
        • Tobacco-Free Environments
    • Health Education
    • Home Health
    • Immunizations
    • Infectious Disease
      • Coronavirus
        • Isolation
        • Quarantine
        • COVID-19 Vaccination
      • Influenza
      • Measles
    • Maternal & Child Health
      • Car Seat Safety
      • Complex Medical Help
      • Cribs for Kids
      • Newborn Home Visits
      • WIC
    • Mobility Management
    • Naloxone (Narcan) Training
    • Safe Communities
      • Drive to Succeed
    • Senior Health & Wellness
    • Tobacco Cessation
  • Health Center
    • Counseling Services
    • Dental Services
    • Medical Services
    • Co-Applicant Board
    • Knox Knows
  • Administration
    • Accreditation
    • Board of Health
    • Data & Resources
    • Fiscal
    • Human Resources
    • Health Commissioner
    • Knox Health Planning Partnership
    • Strategic Plan
  • Contact
    • About
    • Division Directory
    • Links
    • Map & Directions
    • Staff Login

What do sunscreen numbers even mean?

  • Print
  • Email

SPF what 1

First, we should start out with “what is a sunburn?” We all know (and dread) sunburns… when our skin gets red as a lobster and radiates heat for what seems like an eternity. But what actually happened?… because sunburns can happen when the sun isn’t even high and bright in the sky.

We get sunburned when our skin is exposed to UV rays (whether directly from the sun or from some artificial source like a tanning bed). The longer we are exposed, the more burnt we get. Naturnally, we have melanin which gives our skin its color. As we are exposed to UV rays, our body makes more melanin - which acts like a shield to more incoming UV light. 

However, we can only have so much melanin protection. When we’re exposed to more UV rays than our melanin can prevent, the skin cells get inflamed (red, swollen, and painful). 

So to prevent all of that madness, we wear sunscreen. Whether it's lotion or spray, when purchasing sunscreen we need to look at the SPF number. The Sun Protection Factor (we know it as it’s abbreviation “SPF”) is a formula based on how many seconds it would take a patch of skin to get red with the product on. So if it would take 450 seconds for skin to burn with the sunscreen on, but only 10 seconds for your skin to burn without it, then the SPF rating of the product would be 45 (450 seconds divided by 10 seconds = 45 SPF). Long story short… the higher the SPF, the better. 

But also, we need to consider more than just SPF. The ingredients in the sunscreen need to be examined when you're choosing the best fit for your skin, as some key ingredients will provide better protection. There are two ingredients the FDA looks at as safe for UV ray protection: Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide. 

Lastly, don’t forget that there are non-chemical ways to protect our skin from UV rays. Hats, sleeved shirts, and even finding some shade are all good options. 

 

Sources and Helpful Links

Mayo Clinic

Skin Cancer Foundation

Australian Academy of Science

Text Size

Want to read more

Knox Knows blog articles?

 

BLOG MAIN PAGE

We Are Public Health

PHAB Accred Seal

 

Public Health: prevent. promote. protect

Our Mission
Promote a healthy community through education, innovation, and equitable care.

Our Vision
Inspire and empower healthy lifestyles for generations to come.

Copyright © 2024 - Knox Public Health

Find Us on Facebook

 

 

Contact Us

Health Department 

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Phone: 740-392-2200  Fax: 740-392-9613

11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon

 KnoxHealth.com 

 

Health Center

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm 

Phone: 740-399-8008  Fax: 740-399-8012

11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon (inside KPH) - Dental Services

202 West Vine Street, Mount Vernon - Medical Services 

207 West High Street, Mount Vernon (inside Foster's Pharmacy) - Medical Services

206 South Mulberry Street, Mount Vernon - Behavioral Health Services

12 East Main Street, Danville - Behavioral Health & Medical Services

706 South Market Street, Danville - Dental Services 

 

For Health Center service during non-business hours, call 740-399-8008 and choose the "After Hours Service" option. 

For Public Health emergencies during non-business hours, call 740-397-3333 Option 1.

Directions | Call | Email | Fax