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Sun Safety: What You Need to Know About Sunscreen and Swimming

Sun Safety: What You Need to Know About Sunscreen and Swimming

06 Jun 2024 by Ted Escobedo   2 min read

There’s no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. In 2011, the FDA ruled that sunscreen companies were not allowed to label products as “waterproof” or “sweatproof” because the claims exaggerated products’ effectiveness. Instead, sunscreens claim to be “water resistant” for either 40 or 80 minutes. After that time, swimmers will need to reapply. As a rule of thumb, experts recommend that swimmers reapply sunscreen every two hours or after every swim session.
UNDERSTANDING SPF:
SPF refers to the ability of a sunscreen to block out ultraviolet B rays (UVB), which causes sunburns, but not UVA rays. Both UVB and UVA rays contribute to the risk of skin cancer. The SPF rating is a measure of the time it would take you to sunburn if you were not using sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take with sunscreen on. A common misconception that many people make is that they assume SPF 30 is twice as strong as a SPF 15. That’s not necessarily true. According to experts, SPF 15 blocks out 94% of UVB rays, and SPF 30 blocks out 97% or UVB rays, and SPF 45 blocks out 98% of UVB rays. While anything above SPF 45 will protect a percentage or two more, none will offer 100% protection. Experts recommend using an SPF of at least 30 that offers broad spectrum or full spectrum coverage (which protects against both UVA and UVB rays). With the right amount of application and reapplication, you should be well protected.
Source: https://texasswimacademy.com/sun-safety-what-you-n...

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