New FDA guidelines and regulations on sunscreens aim to keep you healthy unburned and also healthy

TAMPA -  

SPF 15? SPF 80? Water resistant versus water proof? Which sunscreen products give you the best protection? It's actually a pretty tough choice, which is why The Food and Drug Administration is unveiling new regulations and guidelines on sunscreen labels. It's going to make them a lot easier to understand and easier to use.

The agency's testing will let consumers know whether a sunning product is "broad spectrum", which means it protects against both ultraviolet rays a and b. UVA rays are the main cause of skin cancer and premature aging. Too many UVB rays can cause serious sunburn.

As for the SPF numbers, which tell people how long they can stay out in the sun before they reapply the product, consumers will no longer see figures higher than 50 because they don't know whether anything over 50 provides any additional protection.

The FDA hopes the new labels will assure sunbathers that any product labeled "broad spectrum" and "SPF 15" or higher not only protects against sunburn, but skin cancer as well, because it has been tested.