Balanced: UVA, UVB, SPF - Decoding Your Sunscreen

Summer is now upon us (even though not officially until June 21st) thanks to Memorial Day. Weekends of barbecues, camping and general outdoor fun are to be had in coming months, and it's imperative that we know about sunscreen.

One of the first things you'll probably notice on a bottle of sunscreen are the letters SPF. They don't stand for Sarah's party feet, or stop playing frisbee--those three letters stand for sun protection factor and tell you the degree to which the sunscreen will protect you from a sunburn. The higher the number, the more protection. Experts say that you should use at least SPF 30 and reapply often.

Other letters and phrases probably litter your sunscreen bottle:

• UV or UVR - ultraviolet radiation, comes from the sun, causes premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancers
• UVA - ultraviolet A is a long light wavelength that penetrates and damages deep layers of skin
• UVB - ultraviolet B is a short light wavelength that is associated with sunburns
• Water resistant - some products tout the fact that sunscreen sticks to your skin even in water. However, remember that UV can penetrate water up to three feet deep! Water resistant also doesn't mean water proof. Sunscreens saying this still need reapplying.
• Octyl Methoycinnamate, Oxybenzone, Parsol 1789 and Zinc or Titanium Oxide - examples of active ingredients in sunscreen which scatter, absorb or even filter both types of UV rays.

Maybe you think you're impervious to the rays of the sun, maybe you don't ever tan or maybe you tan very easily and don't burn. Whatever you're doing, your next step should be to go and buy a bottle of SPF 15 from your local store. Everyone needs sunscreen. More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States.

The FDA and American Academy of Dermatology recognize six skin categories that all need regular sunscreen:

I - always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun-sensitive skin
II - always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun-sensitive skin
III - sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, sun-sensitive skin
IV - burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun-sensitive skin
V - rarely burns, tans well, sun-insensitive skin
VI - never burns, deeply pigmented, sun-insensitive skin

It is never too late to start protecting your skin from UV rays. Make it a habit to apply that teaspoon to each limb and half-teaspoon to your face, ears and neck. Don't forget the your lips, the part in your hair or the toes - they all burn, too! Apply the sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going outside and rub it in thoroughly!

Where do you fall on the skin list? (I'm between a III and IV - I burn but it fades within one day to a dark tan.) Why don't you regularly wear sunscreen? What is your favorite sunscreen?

When she's not writing for Savings.com, Sarah teaches health and science to high schoolers. You can also find Sarah at WEGO Health, where she is an advocate of improved health conditions for women and children of both the United States and globally and on her personal blog, Sarahndipitea.