(HealthDay News) -- Sun protection factor (SPF) is a rating given to sunscreens to help gauge the amount of protection they provide against the sun's damaging UV rays.
An SPF of 15 means you'll have 15 times the amount of protection from the sun that you normally would without any sunscreen, the Nemours Foundation says. That means spending 15 minutes in the sun with SPF 15 applied is the equivalent of spending roughly 1 minute in the sun without any sunscreen.
Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher is recommended for anyone, especially children. Sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays offer the most benefit, the foundation says.
