If you’re a regular reader of the Healthetreatment blog, you know how important it is to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. From time to time we like to remind everyone to wear sunscreen and give important updates on skin cancer-related news. You might think you’ve heard it all by now, but listen up – the Food and Drug Administration recently unveiled their new set of rules for sun protection products.

Companies will have a slew of new guidelines to follow when labeling their sunscreens in 2012. Currently, product labels do not specify exactly which type of ultraviolet radiation they protect against. Most sunscreens work against UVB rays, which cause sunburns, and not UVA, a contributor to skin cancer. Because manufacturers are not required to publish this information, people are often under the impression that the product will protect against both types of radiation. Thus, under the new regulations, product labels will have to make this specification.

Although the guidelines will not be official until next summer, some companies may choose to change their labels earlier. Be on the look out for products that are marked as “Broad Spectrum” – these will offer protection for both UVA and UVB, and are required to have an SPF value of 15 or higher.

Along with this Broad Spectrum designation, manufacturers will be prohibited from using the terms “waterproof,” “sweatproof” and “sunblock,” as “these claims overstate their effectiveness,” according to the FDA. They also may not claim that their product will remain effective for more than two hours without proper FDA-approved evidence.

Many people are often turned off by the prospect of putting chemicals onto their skin, as some believe that sunscreen actually causes skin cancer. This, paired with the increased rate of melanoma since the introduction of sun protection, makes for an interesting argument. The New York Times, however, recently debunked this theory with a few simple explanations.

First, adults often do not apply enough sunscreen to their bodies – 3 tbsp every two hours is the recommended amount. With companies making products available with higher SPFs, they stay out in the sun longer and are more exposed to UVA radiation. Also, advancements in science and technology have allowed medical professionals to screen for and detect skin cancer much more effectively.

Lastly, those who burn in the sun put themselves at a higher risk for disease. According to the source, those who have five sunburns every 10 years are three times more likely to develop melanoma.