Sunscreen is once again a popular item as the summer comes and it gets hotter. However, a new consumer report shows that the labels on sunscreen aren't necessarily true.
Dermatologists recommend that people use a sunscreen that's at least SPF 30. According to consumer reports, nearly half of the sunscreen products they tested have a lower SPF than what their labels claim.
Two examples were brands meant for children -- both sunscreens claimed to have SPF 50, but after testing, the number was actually closer to 8.
So why is the difference between the label and the reality so big?
It could be due to how the sunscreens were tested. Consumer reports soaked the participants of their study in water, whereas manufacturers tend to test people who aren't wet.
Despite these statistics, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you use an amount of sunscreen that's the same size as your palm. Be sure to apply it all over your body every two hours for the time you're in the sun.
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