Sunscreen Claims Get New Guidelines

Getting ready to head out for some summer fun? After decades of bureaucratic hold ups, the FDA issued new guidelines Tuesday to make using and understanding sunscreens easier! Read on and save your hide!

Getting the right (and often proper) sun protection can be a crazy hassle. "What does this mean exactly?" The FDA, after 30 years of trying to get through red-tape, issued new guidelines that will go into effect in 2012.

Under the new rules, the manufactures will have to prove that they protect against ultraviolet A as well as ultraviolet B rays if they want to claim that the product protects against skin cancer.

From The Sacramento Bee's website:

The key takeaway for consumers: Look for a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 and above that also says "broad spectrum." That's the new buzzword from the Food and Drug Administration to describe a product that does an acceptable job blocking both types of damaging rays.

Improper sun protection can lead to melanoma- the most dangerous of skin cancers. $2 billion dollars each year is spent treating melanoma - according to the FDA.

Be sure to reapply your sunscreen ever two hours while outdoors- one dose for the entire day is not the way to go! The more--the better!

Get more on the story and protecting you and your family from the summer sun at Sacbee.com!