That's Fit

I thought I was on top of summer skincare -- both for my self, and for my 3-year-old daughter. But then I learned that producers of well-known sunscreen brands are currently facing a class action lawsuit, alleging that their claims about protecting against UV rays and preventing skin cancer are misleading.

So what have they been lying about? This Health magazine article outlines the top five myths about sunscreen, and what you should do to make sure you and your family are properly protected this at the beach this summer.

1. Sunscreen is all you need to stay safe. Even with sunscreen, there's still a 50% chance you'll burn.
2. The SPF measures levels of protection against both UVB and UVA rays. While several ingredients in sunscreen do block UVA rays, the SPF only applies to UVBs.
3. Sunscreen can protect all day. It actually needs to be reapplied every two hours.
4. Some sunscreens are waterproof. There's no such thing as "waterproof" sunscreen. Some are "resistant," and others are "very resistant," which means they continue to work after some water exposure, but you should always reapply after swimming.
5. Sunscreen provides total sunblock. Even SPF 50 only stops 98 percent of UV rays.

For more detailed explanations of why these common misconceptions are inaccurate, and what you should do in response, see the full article.