Sunscreen Isn’t Enough

Some people have the impression that wearing sunscreen makes them fully protected against the sun’s rays. But that’s not the case. No sunscreen can do that. No matter how high the SPF, no matter how thickly you slather it on, sunscreen will never fully protect you, experts say. This misunderstanding can be dangerous: people who think they’re safe wind up spending too much time in the sun and raise their risk of skin cancer and other problems. Even your clothes may not protect you. The average cotton T-shirt only has a pitiful SPF of 4. So in addition to wearing good sunscreen, you still need to take other precautions: * Stay in the shade when possible. * Wear sunglasses. * Stay inside when UV radiation levels are highest, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the U.S. * Wear a broad-brimmed hat. * Wear sun-protective clothing, preferably with a UVP (ultraviolet protection rating) on the label. At least wear clothes that are dark and tightly woven, which offer a bit more protection. Sunscreen works. But protecting yourself against ultraviolet rays requires a lot more than sunscreen alone. And remember that with sunscreen, you need to defend yourself against the sun’s rays with both UVA and UVB protection.