While sunscreen companies work on rolling out their new bottle labels - thanks to the new regulations put into place by the FDA - there are still some basic sunscreen terms that are confusing to many. For instance, what’s the difference between UVA and UVB? And is water-resistant just as effective as waterproof? Let’s get all of our “burning” sunscreen questions answered! SPF : SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor.” According to WebMD, SPF is the ability of a sunscreen to block UVB rays, which cause sunburns, but not UVA rays, which can penetrate skin more deeply. The number, however, doesn’t indicate how long a

person can be outside in the sun before suffering from a burn. Some doctors argue that ditching your bottle of SPF 30 for a higher SPF may lead to a false sense of security about staying in the sun longer without reapplying. With the new regulations about labeling, the FDA has proposed a rule that would ban companies from labeling its sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher. Research suggests that there aren’t any additional benefits once the SPF gets that high. Find out what other sunscreen terms mean.

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What’s in a Word? Decoding Sunscreen Terminology