Sunscreen is a vital part of any sun protection strategy: when used as directed on a daily basis, it’s proven to decrease your risk of skin cancer, skin precancers, and skin damage such as wrinkles and spots. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US, affecting 1 in 5 Americans by the age of 70 (opens in new tab). Wearing sunscreen can reduce your risk of developing common types of skin cancer, as well as other damage caused by the sun.
Everyone under the sun (except for babies who are under the age of 6 months) should wear sunscreen on all of their exposed skin. Sunscreen is something that people talk about a lot, which is usually a good thing, but sometimes, myths and misinformation can spread. Here are four common myths about SPF and UV protection, debunked:
Myth #1: You can put your sunscreen on in the morning, and be safe for the day.
Reality: Sunscreen wears off! The CDC recommends (opens in new tab) reapplying sunscreen every two hours to ensure continued protection from UV rays. You should also reapply immediately after swimming or excessive sweating, because sunscreen is not waterproof. Yes, really! There’s no such thing as waterproof sunscreen (the FDA no longer allows manufacturers to claim that their sunscreen is waterproof). If your sunscreen is labeled “water-resistant”, that means it will remain effective for either 40 or 80 minutes (opens in new tab) after swimming or sweating (check the label to learn exactly how long it stays effective). After that time passes, you’ll need to reapply!
Starting your day by applying sunscreen is a great start to lowering your risk of skin damage, but to ensure day long protection, remember to reapply.