The Dangers of Sunscreen

Water washes sunscreen off and the cooling effect of the water can make you think you're protected.

Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF), which is a number that rates how well they filter out ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sun damage to the body is caused by invisible UV radiation. Sunburn is a type of skin cancer that can be caused by exposure to UV radiation. Sun protection factor (SPF) is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects against sunburn.

The higher the SPF, the more protection the sunscreen provides. However, no sunscreen is completely waterproof or sweatproof. Water can wash sunscreen off, and the cooling effect of the water can make you think you're protected when you're not.

It is important to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you are swimming or sweating.