First, the honest part, same as our razor bumps page: Anders doesn't make a sunscreen. This page exists because sunscreen is the closest thing dermatology has to a unanimous recommendation, and because the numbers for men specifically deserve a minute of your attention.
The numbers
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. For 2026, it projects 8,510 melanoma deaths — 5,500 men and 3,010 women. That's not a rounding difference: nearly two out of three of those deaths are men, and research the AAD cites indicates men with melanoma generally have lower survival rates than women. That's the whole sales pitch, and it isn't ours.
What to buy
Three things on the label, per the AAD: SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum (covers both UVA and UVB), and water resistance. SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays. Higher numbers block slightly more, but no sunscreen blocks 100% — a bigger number is not an invincibility setting.
"Physical" versus "chemical" is simpler than the marketing suggests: if the active ingredient is titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both, it's a physical sunscreen; otherwise it's chemical. Both count. The best sunscreen is the one you'll actually put on, which is a real answer, not a dodge.
How much, and how often
- Amount: about 1 ounce for exposed skin — the AAD's comparison is a shot glass. For the face alone, at least a teaspoon.
- Timing: onto dry skin, 15 minutes before going outside.
- Reapply: roughly every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
- Cloudy days count: up to 80% of the sun's UV rays get through clouds.
Sunscreen alone isn't the whole plan
The AAD is explicit that sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. The rest of the kit is unglamorous: shade, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection. None of it requires a routine, or a brand.
Why this is on a skincare blog at all
Two reasons. First, sun protection is quietly a pigmentation tool: per the AAD, sunscreen can prevent new dark spots and help clear existing ones, which is why it shows up again in our dark marks article. Second, if you're building the two steps from the simple routine guide, sunscreen is the third step worth adding before any serum, acid, or anything else with a marketing budget. Including ours.
Sources
General education, not medical advice, and not a claim about any Anders product — we don't sell one for this. A spot or mole that's new, changing, or growing is a dermatologist's job, not an article's.