SPF 70 - does that sound right?

Sometimes I think my dermatologist has become slightly unhinged, and
case in point: I saw her yesterday, and she said I shouldn't use any
sunscreen with less than 70 SPF. When I asked her where I could find
this sunscreen, she said any brand, and when pushed, mentioned Banana
Boat. Well, the hightest Banana Boat spf I could find was 50, and the
only one at 70 I could find online was a Hawaiian Tropics (and I
generally don't like the smell of their sunscreens).

So, does what she said sound reasonable? I don't work outdoors, just
have normal in-and-out exposure, and have been using SPF 30.

fiatflux...

Actually you need to purchase sunscreen from Canada in order to get the
most effective sunscreen available. The key ingredient is mexoryl and
it is not approved by the FDA. The sunscreens sold in the U.S. are
therefore not as effective and not filtering out some of the most
damaging UVA rays. I feel pretty duped by our "SPF" system since I was
blissfully ignorant for a long time that our sunscreens were not as
protective as they could be.

See this article for more info:
Why is the best sunscreen blocked by FDA?

Here is where I have purchased this sunscreen (La Roche Posay &
Ombrelle are two brands):

If anyone finds a cheaper source, please post it.

David RL Gärtner, RMT...

i've never heard of 70 spf until now.

personally, i like the Ocean Potion 50. it smells like
Dreamcycle. and Diane Hardin recommended it. and i used it in
Hawaii at Hanauma Bay while snorkeling for two hours with my back
to the sun and i didn't get burned - and didn't reapply.
actually, i got burned in one little place where i didn't get any
of the sunscreen. but the rest of my back was as white as when i
went into the water.

itsjoannotjoann...

WOW!! I haven't seen it, but perhaps others have. Maybe the spf 70 is
special order? I'm interested in what the other have to say and if
they've seen this on the shelves. I'm like you, just in and out the
door exposure.

Ruddell...

I wonder why she would recommend such a high rating if it's not readily
available? You'd think the manufactures would be pushing it if it was
really necessary and of course profitable...

JackieD...

Spending a lot of time in Mexico, I can tell you that SPF 70 is really common, but it is not by
Banana Boat - it is made by Hawaiian Tropic - look for the silver bottle with the blue cap. What I
have also seen, just last week, is a Mexican brand with SPF 100! It feels a lot like zinc ointment.

Charlie Perrin...

Well, that's Mexican labeling, not US labeling.

Jackie
Support your local Attorney....Send your kid to Medical School!

shinypenny...

More importantly than the SPF level is reapplying the sunscreen
frequently. The more light you are, the more frequently you should
reapply - even if you aren't swimming or sweating.

If your skin is that sensitive, you probably should also be sure to
stay out of the sun from 12-2 pm, always wear a hat, cover up, don't
deliberately sun bathe, etc.