We all love our fun in the sun.  And here in the Midwest, it seems especially important to get out and enjoy the nice weather. We get so little of it!  How to protect yourself and your family in the sun can be a confusing choice. To clear things up, first, lets talk a little bit about the sun.  The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for the aging effect of the sun; however, overexposure to UVA rays can cause skin cancer.  UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.

Now on to SPF, sun protection factor.  Listed on sunscreens, it generally indicates the additional length of time that someone can spend in the sun before burning. However, an SPF of 40 or 50 is only marginally more protective than an SPF of 15.  An SPF of 30 has only 2% more protection than an SPF of 15, and a 40 has only 1% more than a 30.

Sunscreens need to be reapplied every 90–120 minutes because of how they work in the skin. They take on average 20 minutes to activate in the epidermis and then dissipate over time, hence having to reapply.

Have fun out there!