Advice on best types of sunscreen — TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

The best sunscreen is one you’ll use generously and according to directions. Here’s help understanding sunscreen ingredients, types of sunscreen and more.

Avoid the sun during peak

hours. Generally, this is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — regardless of season. These are prime hours for exposure to skindamaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun, even on overcast days.

Use sunscreen. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply regularly.

What does a broad-spectrum sunscreen do?There are two types of UV light that harm your skin — UVA and UVB. A broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum, sunscreen protects you from both.

UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays can burn your skin. Too much exposure to these rays can cause skin cancer.

Does the best sunscreen

have the highest SPF? SPF stands for sun protection factor, a measure of how well sunscreen protects against UVB rays. Manufacturers calculate SPF based on how long it takes to burn skin that’s been treated with the sunscreen as compared to skin with no sunscreen.

When applied correctly, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will provide slightly more protection from UVB rays than does a sunscreen with an SPF of 15. But the SPF 30 product isn’t twice as protective as the SPF 15 product. Sunscreens with SPFs greater than 50 provide only a small increase in UV protection.

Rather than looking at a sunscreen’s SPF, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen.