PA+ to PA++++ vs. US 'Broad Spectrum': How UVA Ratings Differ Worldwide
Decode the cryptic labels so you know which one actually tells you more about UVA when comparing Asian and American sunscreen bottles.
Japan and Korea grade UVA protection with the PA system - PA+++ corresponds roughly to a PPD of 8 to 16 - while the US uses only a binary 'broad spectrum' pass/fail label with no graded UVA value shown on the bottle.
Formulation experts note that graded systems like PA (built on PPD testing) communicate UVA strength more precisely than the US binary label, which only certifies that a product meets a minimum broad-spectrum ratio. That granularity is why many shoppers cross-reference PA ratings when comparing international sunscreens.
Questions we get a lot
What does the PA rating on sunscreen mean?
PA is the UVA-protection grading system used in Japan and Korea, ranging from PA+ to PA++++, based on the PPD (persistent pigment darkening) test. PA+++ corresponds roughly to a PPD of about 8 to 16, so more plus signs mean stronger UVA protection. It gives a graded, granular picture of UVA defense.
How is the US 'broad spectrum' label different from PA?
The US uses a binary 'broad spectrum' pass/fail label, which only certifies a product meets a minimum UVA-to-UVB ratio - it shows no graded UVA value. PA, by contrast, tells you the relative strength of UVA protection. That's why a PA rating conveys more detail than 'broad spectrum' alone.
Is a PA++++ sunscreen better than a US broad-spectrum one?
PA++++ gives you more information about UVA strength, but it doesn't automatically mean a specific US broad-spectrum product is weaker - it just isn't labeled as granularly. A US product still has to pass a broad-spectrum test to carry the claim. When you want to compare UVA levels directly, the PA scale is more informative.
FYP question: 'My Korean sunscreen says PA++++ but my American one just says broad spectrum - which one protects against UVA better?'