Sun protection

3 sourcesEvery line checked against its source

In short

In the United States the FDA regulates sunscreens like other nonprescription drugs, so they have to meet safety and effectiveness standards.

What it is3

Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Use broad spectrum sunscreens with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

No sunscreen is waterproof. All sunscreens eventually wash off.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Visible light can darken skin, especially darker skin tones. Sunscreens that contain iron oxides (they give a tint) help protect against it.
Cole Y

To get the most protection out of sunscreen, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
For people with rosacea, NIH advises an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen made for the face every day, which protects against broad-spectrum UV and visible light.
National Institutes of Health
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Use enough to cover your entire face and body (avoiding the eyes and mouth). An average-sized adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass) to evenly cover the body from head to toe.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you are swimming or sweating.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Frequently forgotten spots: Ears; Nose; Lips (use SPF lip balm); Back of neck; Hands; Tops of feet; Along the hairline; Exposed scalp (from balding or thinning hair).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Lips are often forgotten: use an SPF lip balm.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Do not spray sunscreen directly onto your face.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Do not use sunscreen products that have passed their expiration date (if there is one).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

These pages describe what the sources say. They cannot say what is going on with your skin.

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