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this consumer update brought to you by the u_s_ food and drug administration
sunscreen can be an important part of protecting our skin from the sun's
harmful rays
but how do we know which sunscreens provide the greatest protection
we only protection from the sun's ultraviolet radiation
also called u_v_ radiation includes both u_v_ b_ and u_v_ a_ wavelengths
sunburn is primarily caused by u_v_ b_
both types of ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer anderly skin aging
so how does sunscreen work
let's think of our sunscreen as if it were a beach umbrella
does that help protect against both u_v_ a_ and u_v_ b_ rays
or does it lead some wavelengths through
no sunscreen completely blocks u_v_ rays
but by using the right product is directed and in combination with other
measures including wearing protective clothing
you can reduce your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging
to begin providing adequate protection
sunscreens should have a sun protection factor known as a test p_f_ of at least
fifteen
but that's not enough this will stop some u_v_ b_ rays but may not stop u_v_
rays to protect against both you need something called broad-spectrum
protection
so let's increase the protection by adding broad-spectrum tour espy
f_-fifteen sunscreen
narrower protecting against you v_-eight and u_v_ b_ rays
okay what happens if we increase the s_p_ after fifty but leave out broad
spectrum
the high-risk p_f_ provides more protection against u_v_ b_ rays but
without broad-spectrum this may not have a quickly protect against u_v_ rays
so what does all this science boil down to
for greater protections sunscreen should have a nest pia value of fifteen or
higher and be broad spectrum
changes take a little time so you may not see sunscreens labeled this way in
two thousand eleven but starting in the summer of two thousand twelve for the
greatest protection look for sunscreens with a nest p_f_ of at least fifteen and
broad-spectrum on the label
a more about sunscreen
best protect yourself
gota here dot g_o_p_ slash sunscreen