Sunscreen Efficacy Research Essay

This essay evaluates the efficacy and validity of research on sunscreen use. It cites a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which highlights the importance of understanding SPF levels. The EPA study indicates that while an SPF of 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation, an SPF of 30 only provides an additional 4% protection, dispelling the misconception that higher SPF doubles the protection. The essay concludes that the EPA study, being published by a credible source, is both effective and valid research.

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21 August 2024
Efficacy and Validity of Latest Research on the Effects of Using Sunscreen
The efficacy and validity of any research study should be evaluated from analyzing
the evidential pattern of the research work and the journals and publications depicting the
research study’s outcome. There have been myriads of research studies on the effectiveness
of using sunscreen, but not all of them can be relied on (from the perspective of validity).
A recent study result published by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), which itself is a valid source of information and an authority in terms of
commenting on the concerned safety and health related issues, depicts that though
sunscreen’s use is effective in protecting the skin from carcinogenic transformations, it is
very much essential to determine the degree of the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The study
reveals that user must be aware of the fact that though SPF of at least 15 is recommended; it
is unsafe to use SPF of 30, erroneously considering the figure to be indication of double
effectiveness (EPA). It has been observed that, “when properly used, an SPF of 15 protects
the skin from 93 percent of UVB radiation, and an SPF 30 sunscreen provides 97 percent
protection” (EPA). And this indicates that it would be wrong to assume that SPF 30 has a
potential to protect the skin double than its counterpart 15.
The research finding is evidential in nature, and as it has been published by a credible
governmental agency, dedicated to the protection of health of the citizenry; the research
finding should be considered both effective and valid.

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(254 words)
Works Cited
"Air and Radiation ." The Burning Facts EPA 430-F-06-013 (2006): 1-6. Web. 14 Aug. 2017.
<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/sunscreen.pdf>.