Are You Protected?
By the time you figure out what the sunscreen product can do the sun may be long gone. Local mom Connie Ozdil explains the new (2011) UVA sunscreen rating system: 1 star represents low UVA protection, 2 stars medium, 3 stars high protection and 4 stars the highest in an over the counter sunscreen product. Even on cloudy days 80% of the ultraviolet rays can pass through clouds. (source: www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates).
Acronym Academics:
UVA ultraviolet rays pass through window glass.
Responsible for premature aging and age spots.
UVB ultraviolet rays blocked by window glass.
Primary cause of sun burn.
SPF sun protection factor used for sunscreens.
UPF ultraviolet protection factor used mainly for clothing.
The higher the UPF the more it blocks UVA and UVB rays.