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How much UVB protection does an SPF 15 sunscreen offer?

  1. 80%

  2. 90%

  3. 93.3%

  4. 99%

The correct answer is: 93.3%

An SPF 15 sunscreen offers approximately 93.3% UVB protection. This percentage is derived from the SPF rating, which indicates the level of protection it provides against UVB radiation, the type primarily responsible for sunburn and contributing to skin cancer. When calculating the percentage of UVB rays blocked by sunscreen, the formula used is: Percentage of UVB protection = 100 - (100 / SPF). For an SPF of 15, this calculation would be: 100 - (100 / 15) = 100 - 6.67 = 93.3%. This means that while no sunscreen can provide complete protection, an SPF 15 does a good job of significantly reducing UVB exposure, making it an effective choice for daily use. Higher SPF values do increase protection, but the increase is not linear, which is important for understanding the efficacy of sunscreen.