Updated June 22, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking the guesswork out of choosing a sunscreen.

New regulations, going into effect in 2012, establish standards reflecting effectiveness results for product testing.

The regulations determine which products can be labeled as Broad Spectrum, meaning the product protects against both UVB (causing sunburn) and UVA (penetrating deeper to increase risk of skin damage and cancer) rays.

Until now, the FDA has not required a consistent standard for measuring UVA protection because only recently has accurate testing been established.

In addition, manufacturers cannot make claims that sunscreens are “waterproof” or “sweatproof, or identify products as “sunblocks.”  Water resistance claims are to be detailed on the front label.

Until the new labeling takes effect, the SPF (sun protection factor) provides a guideline for the amount of time you can stay in the sun without getting burned.

For example, SPF 15 means you should be able to stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without sunscreen and get the same amount of sunburn protection.

Use common sense to avoid excessive sun exposure.