I remember when shopping for sunscreen was simple.  Today the choices for sunscreen seem endless: SPFs up to 110, waterproof, sweatproof, blocks UVA rays, blocks UVB rays, for babies, etc. Today the FDA tried to ease confusion by creating new rules for sunscreen manufacturers.

Some of the major changes, which will become effective in 2012, include:

  1. Only sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 15 or higher can claim to lower skin cancer.
  2. No sunscreen may claim to have an SPF of higher than 50.
  3. No sunscreen may claim to be "waterproof" or "sweatproof".

What exactly does SPF mean anyway?

Florida Dermatologist James M. Spencer clarifies via webmd.com:

An SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays, an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays, and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays.

If you'd like to read ALL the details, grab some SPF 30 and take your laptop/smartphone outdoors then click below.

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